Regional differences, distribution dynamics, and convergence of renewable energy development in China

Abstract

[Objective] As an important part of the energy system, renewable energy is one of the key driving forces to build the low-cost, clean and low-carbon, safe, and efficient new energy system. Exploring the regional differences, distribution dynamics, and convergence of China’s renewable energy development level will help to deeply understand the current situation and evolution trend of China’s renewable energy development level, and provide policy guidance for China to further promote the energy revolution, build a new energy system, and achieve the dual carbon goals. [Methods] Based on China’s provincial panel data from 2006 to 2019, Dagum Gini coefficient, Kernel density, σ convergence, and spatial β convergence were used to analyze the detailed characteristics of China’s renewable energy development level. [Results] (1) The renewable energy development level in China and the four regions of eastern, central, western, and northeastern China exhibited a steady rising trend, and the average annual growth rate in the Northeast was the highest; (2) The intraregional differences in the whole country and the four regions gradually decreased. The interregional imbalance was the main source of the overall difference, and its impact on the overall difference was increasing. (3) With regard to the distribution dynamics, the development level of renewable energy in China exhibited a significant spatial correlation. Polarization occurred in the four regions, but gradually weakened. (4) On the convergence side, the renewable energy development level of China as a whole and the four regions all showed the characteristics of σ convergence and β convergence, which was the strongest in the Northeast and the weakest in western China. [Conclusion] The development level of renewable energy in China possesses great potential for further improvement, and exhibited obvious regional differences and spatial spillover effects. Therefore, the Chinese government should attach importance to the development of renewable energy, and different regions should formulate differentiated incentive policies according to local conditions. The regions should strengthen regional exchanges and cooperation, promote mutual interaction, and jointly contribute to the realization of the dual carbon goals.

Keywords

• |renewable energy|regional differences|spatial correlation|dagum gini coefficient|conditional β convergence model|kernel density estimation|china