Renewable energy transition and metal consumption: Dynamic evolution analysis based on transnational data

Abstract

Using the system generalised method of moments, we examine the dynamic effects of renewable energy transition on the consumption of metal. The results indicate that: (1) renewable energy transition exerts positive impacts on metal consumption; (2) the industrial structure effect is a significant mediator in this nexus based on the mediation mechanism, whereas the renewable technology innovation effect is insignificant; (3) using panel quantile estimation, the marginal effect of renewable energy transition is dynamic at different levels of metal consumption as well as changes from positive to negative and shows an increasing trend. This study explores how renewable energy transition affects the consumption of metal minerals, thus offering both theoretical and empirical backing for the development of an important metal resource strategy and the safety of metal minerals.