Abstract:
Green and low-carbon technological innovation is an important pathway for driving regional energy structure transformation. However, which types of green and low-carbon technological innovations can significantly drive regional energy structure transformation and how they exert this influence remain to be thoroughly explored. This study employs a “year-province” two-way fixed effects model to analyze the impact of five types of green and low-carbon technological innovations—namely, fossil fuel decarbonization technology innovation, energy-saving and energy recovery technology innovation, clean energy technology innovation, energy storage technology innovation, and greenhouse gas reduction technology innovation—on regional energy structure transformation using panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2022. The research findings reveal that all five types of green and low-carbon technological innovations positively affect regional energy structure transformation, though the degree of influence varies. Specifically, the impact of these innovations on energy structure transformation is not significant in eastern regions but is significantly positive in central and western regions. Enhancing energy utilization efficiency and reducing carbon emission intensity are identified as the key mechanisms through which these five types of green and low-carbon technological innovations drive regional energy structure transformation. Furthermore, command-and-control environmental regulations positively moderate the effect of fossil fuel decarbonization and energy storage technology innovations on regional energy structure transformation. Market-based environmental regulations positively moderate the effects of energy-saving and energy recovery technology innovation, clean energy technology innovation, and energy storage technology innovation on regional energy structure transformation, but show no significant moderating effect on fossil fuel decarbonization and greenhouse gas reduction technology innovation. The research findings provide a basis for understanding the current status of green and low-carbon technological innovation and energy structure transformation in different provinces. They also offer valuable insights for developing region-specific energy structure transformation strategies.