Examining the multiple impacts of renewable energy development on redefined energy security in China: A panel quantile regression approach

Abstract

The increasing generation of renewable energy and its concurrent technological innovation are driving the transformations of the energy sector, but little effort has been made at the regional level to specify the heterogeneous impacts of different types of renewable energy development on multi-dimensional energy security. Therefore, this paper establishes a four-dimensional energy security assessment system based on the current energy market situation and economic context of China. Renewable energy generation and technological innovation were simultaneously used as the core proxies for renewable energy development. Then, the panel quantile regression method was used to analyze the heterogeneity of the impact of solar, hydro, and wind energy on energy security, covering 30 provinces in China from 2006 to 2019. The empirical results show that renewable energy power generation generally promotes energy security, but it cannot be effectively applicable to all levels of energy security. Renewable energy technology innovation has surprisingly hindered energy security. These results can serve as a policy and practical guide, suggesting that provincial governments in China should implement energy security and renewable energy policies in line with local characteristics.