Industrial energy conservation and emission reduction performance in China: A city-level nonparametric analysis. (15th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhou, D.Q.; Wang, Qunwei; Su, B.; Zhou, P.; Yao, L.X.
• Is Part Of: Applied energy. Volume 166(2016)
• Page Start: 201
• Page End: 209
• Publication Date: 2016-03-15
• Subjects: Energy conservation -- Emission reduction -- Malmquist index -- Non-radial directional distance function; Power (Mechanics) -- Periodicals; Energy conservation -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.09.081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-2619

Abstract

Highlights: A non-radial Malmquist energy conservation emission reduction performance index (MECERPI) is proposed. MECERPI can be decomposed into a technological change index and an efficiency change index. MECERPI of Chinese industry improves at an average annual rate of 16.08%. The catch-up effect of energy conservation emission reduction performance exists in China. The best performers of industrial energy conservation and emission reduction are the coastal cities in eastern China. Abstract: This paper proposes a Malmquist energy conservation and emission reduction performance index (MECERPI) for assessing the performance changes in energy use and pollutant emissions over time. The index is built upon the non-radial directional distance function and can be derived by solving data envelopment analysis. We apply the MECERPI to empirically investigate the industrial performance of energy conservation and emission reduction in over two hundred cities in China as well as its influential factors. Our empirical results show that due to the combined effects of technological progress and efficiency improvement, the energy conservation and emission reduction performance of Chinese industry has improved at an average annual rate of 16%. The catch-up effect and convergence exist throughout the country, including the eastern, central, western and northeastern regions. The best performers, which act as the benchmark for industrial energy conservation and emission reduction, are the coastal cities in eastern China.