The evolution of electric technology in the context of China’s low-carbon transformation: a patent analysis

IF 3.5 3区社会学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management Pub Date : 2022-08-26 DOI:10.1108/ijccsm-04-2022-0050

Ruifeng Hu, Weiqiao Xu, Yalin Yang

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引用次数: 3

Abstract

Purpose Owing to increased energy demands, China has become the world’s top CO2 emitter, with electricity generation accounting for the majority of emissions. Therefore, the Chinese Government aspires to achieve a low-carbon transformation of the electric industry by enhancing its green innovation capacity. However, little attention has been paid to the green development of electric technology. Thus, this paper aims to uncover the spatiotemporal evolution of electric technology in the context of China’s low-carbon transformation through patent analysis. Design/methodology/approach Using granted green invention patent data for China’s electric industry between 2000 and 2021, this paper conducted an exploratory, spatial autocorrelation and time-varying difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to reveal the landscape of electric technology. Findings Exploratory analysis shows that the average growth rate of electric technology is 8.1%, with spatial heterogeneity, as there is slower growth in the north and west and faster growth in the south and east. In addition, electric technology shows spatial clustering in local areas. Finally, the time-varying DID analysis provides positive evidence that low-carbon policies improve the green innovation capacity of electric technology. Research limitations/implications The different effects of the low-carbon pilot policy (LCPC) on R&D subjects and the LCPC’s effectiveness in enhancing the value of patented technology were not revealed. Originality/value This paper reveals the spatiotemporal evolutionary characteristics of electric technology in mainland China. The results can help the Chinese Government clarify how to carry out innovative development in the electric industry as part of the low-carbon transformation and provide a theoretical basis and research direction for newcomers in this field.

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中国低碳转型背景下的电力技术演进——专利分析

目的由于能源需求的增加，中国已成为世界上最大的二氧化碳排放国，其中发电量占排放量的大部分。因此，中国政府希望通过提高绿色创新能力，实现电力行业的低碳转型。然而，人们很少关注电气技术的绿色发展。因此，本文旨在通过专利分析揭示中国低碳转型背景下电力技术的时空演变。设计/方法论/方法利用2000年至2021年中国电力行业的绿色发明专利授权数据，进行了探索性、空间自相关和时变差异分析，以揭示电力技术的前景。FindingsExploratory分析显示，电力技术的平均增长率为8.1%，具有空间异质性，因为北部和西部增长较慢，南部和东部增长较快。此外，电气技术在局部地区表现出空间聚集性。最后，时变DID分析为低碳政策提高电力技术的绿色创新能力提供了积极证据。研究局限性/含义低碳试点政策（LCPC）对研发主体的不同影响以及LCPC在提高专利技术价值方面的有效性没有被揭示。原创性/价值本文揭示了中国大陆电力技术的时空演化特征。研究结果有助于中国政府明确如何将电力行业的创新发展作为低碳转型的一部分，并为该领域的新来者提供理论基础和研究方向。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES-

CiteScore

8.10

自引率

8.30%

发文量

审稿时长

15 weeks

期刊介绍： Effective from volume 10 (2018), International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management is an open access journal. In the history of science there have been only a few issues which have mobilized the attention of scientists and policy-makers alike as the issue of climate change currently does. International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management is an international forum that addresses the need for disseminating scholarly research, projects and other initiatives aimed to facilitate a better understanding of the subject matter of climate change. The journal publishes papers dealing with policy-making on climate change, and methodological approaches to cope with the problems deriving from climate change. It disseminates experiences from projects and case studies where due consideration to environmental, economic, social and political aspects is given and especially the links and leverages that can be attained by this holistic approach. It regards climate change under the perspective of its wider implications: for economic growth, water and food security, and for people''s survival – especially those living in the poorest communities in developing countries.