Urban governance and power consumption dynamics in China's carbon-intensive sectors: Insights for sustainable development

This study examines the intricate relationships between industrial practices and power consumption within China's carbon-intensive industries. By leveraging the fundamental principles of Newton's second law of motion, this research provides a novel perspective to evaluate the dynamics between forces, motion, and power usage in industrial operations. Employing a systems theory approach, the study considers industrial practices (IP), surface conditions (SC), equipment efficiency (EE), production output (PO), and power consumption (PC) as interconnected components within a larger system. The study employed robust least squares regression, Granger causality, and inter-temporal forecasting relationship between the variables. The findings of this investigation yield valuable insights. Regarding industrial practices (IP), it is observed that the utilization of chemicals exhibits a negative correlation with electric power consumption, implying that certain chemical processes entail lower electricity requirements. Conversely, technical cooperation grants and machinery & transport equipment demonstrate a positive relationship with power consumption, indicating their contribution to increased electricity usage. Regarding surface conditions (SC), it is revealed that factors such as oil rents, ores & metal exports, and renewable energy are associated with reduced power consumption. This suggests that practices enhancing smoothness, minimizing roughness, and implementing appropriate coatings can decrease electricity demand. Conversely, the pump price for diesel fuel exhibits a positive relationship with power consumption, implying that higher fuel prices drive increased electricity usage. Moreover, concerning equipment efficiency (EE), it is found that textiles & clothing manufacturing value added displays a negative correlation with power consumption. This highlights the potential for reducing electricity consumption in the textile and clothing industry through manufacturing technological advancements. Finally, in the realm of production output (PO), carbon emissions and manufacturing value-added are positively linked to power consumption, underscoring the energy-intensive nature of these activities. Conversely, electric power transmission and distribution losses demonstrate a negative relationship with power consumption, emphasizing the significance of minimizing energy losses within the grid infrastructure. The study concludes that China must prioritize renewable energy subsidies and carbon emission reductions to meet its environmental goals. Reduced power use by energy-efficient machines and transit systems can boost metropolis economies.