Factorial Decomposition of the Energy Footprint of the Shaoxing Textile Industry

Xiaopeng Wang,Yongliang Yang,Yi Li,Xiang Chen,Yiman Cheng,Luyao Zhou

doi:10.3390/en13071683

Abstract

To present great environmental pressure from energy consumption during textile production, this paper calculates the energy footprint (EFP) of Shaoxing’s textile industry, from 2005 to 2018. Moreover, this study analyzes the relationship between Shaoxing’s textile industry energy consumption and economic development by using decoupling theory. Furthermore, the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index decomposition method was employed to investigate the main factors that affect the EFP of Shaoxing’s textile industry. Research results show the following: (1) The growth rate of the total output value of Shaoxing’s textile industry was greater than the growth rate of the EFP, from 2005 to 2007. Thus, the decoupling state showed a weak decoupling, and EFP intensity decreased. (2) The EFP and economic growth were mainly based on the strong decoupling of Shaoxing’s textile industry from 2008 to 2015 (except for 2011), and EFP intensity declined further. (3) Economic recession in the textile industry was severe in Shaoxing, from 2016 to 2018, and the EFP also showed a downward trend. The state of decoupling appeared as a recessive decoupling (2016) and a weak negative decoupling (2017 and 2018), and EFP intensity first increased and then decreased. (4) The total effect of the factors affecting the EFP of the textile industry in Shaoxing demonstrated a pulling trend, and industrial scale played a significant role in driving the EFP. The energy consumption intensity effect contributed the largest restraint. This paper fills in the gaps in the environmental regulation means and methods of pillar industrial clusters in specific regions.

Highlights

The relationship between economic growth and environmental pressure has been vividly discussed [1,2,3]
(3) Economic recession in the textile industry was severe in Shaoxing, from 2016 to 2018, and the energy footprint (EFP) showed a downward trend
The state of decoupling appeared as a recessive decoupling (2016) and a weak negative decoupling (2017 and 2018), and EFP intensity first increased and decreased

Summary

Introduction

The relationship between economic growth and environmental pressure has been vividly discussed [1,2,3]. Excessive greenhouse gas emissions have caused serious environmental problems, such as global warming, melting glaciers and rising sea levels. Excessive energy consumption is the cause of such problems. To reduce energy consumption in the textile industry in China, the industry must explore energy-saving technologies and energy-efficient assessment methods [5,6,7]. China is the world’s largest textile product manufacturer and exporter. The textile industry is a traditional pillar industry in China, an important civilian production industry and an industry that creates new international advantages [8,9,10]. China’s cotton textile spindles account for half the world’s total, Energies 2020, 13, 1683; doi:10.3390/en13071683 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion