Abstract
ICT has significantly transformed the traditional energy production and service methods, changed the correlation characteristics of energy consumption network, and contributed to the establishment of cross-regional, open, and synergistic energy ecological networks. In this paper, social network analysis (SNA), dynamic SYS-GMM model, and mediating effects model are employed to deliberate on the mechanism of ICT capital’s influence on the spatial correlation of energy consumption from 2000 to 2019. Firstly, this study employs an enhanced gravity model to precisely delineate the spatial correlation network of energy consumption in China, further applies the SNA to analyze the network structural characteristics, and then uses the econometric model to investigate the influence mechanism and heterogeneity of ICT capital on the spatial correlation of energy consumption. The study demonstrates a progressive spatial correlation in energy consumption in China, with eastern provinces emerge as the center of the network, assuming the position of the “dominant player.” Conversely, the central provinces act as the “bridge,” and western provinces are positioned at the periphery, referred to as the “edge” of the network. ICT capital contributes to improving the energy consumption spatial correlation, mainly by stimulating green technology innovation, promoting industrial structure optimization, accelerating human capital accumulation, and reducing income inequality. As ICT capital expands, the eastern region becomes more preeminent as a network hub for energy consumption, the central region increases its dominance slightly, and the western region’s marginal position does not change significantly. Furthermore, the presence of ICT capital significantly enhances the intensity of energy consumption spatial correlation more prominently for low-carbon pilot areas and high Internet level areas. This study guides provinces to fully utilize ICT capital to reach collaborative energy-saving goals, and promotes the breaking down of regional competitive barriers in energy systems to build cooperative energy conservation ecological networks.
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Data availability
Data supporting the research results are primarily obtained from “China Statistical Yearbook (2000–2019),” “Provincial Statistical Yearbook (2000–2019),” “China Information Technology Statistical Yearbook (2000–2019),” “China Energy Statistical Yearbook (2000–2019),” and input–output tables in China.
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We also have an appreciation to the Editor and anonymous referees for the very useful comments and suggestions.
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This study received financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72373165), the Late Subsidized Projects of the National Social Science Foundation of China “theoretical and empirical research on digital economy driving economic high-quality development and green and low-carbon transformation”, the High-end Think Tank Project of Central South University (2021znzk01), the Major Project of the National Social Science Foundation of China (21&ZD103), and the Graduate Innovation Program of Hunan Province (CX20230236).
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by Meirui Zhong, Jialu Xia, and Qiong Xu. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Jialu Xia, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Zhong, M., Xia, J. & Xu, Q. How ICT capital affects the spatial correlation of energy consumption—a new perspective based on spatially correlation network. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 121770–121793 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30867-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-30867-0