Heterogeneous impact of renewable energy on carbon efficiency and analysis of impact mechanisms: evidence from the provincial level in China

Renewable energy (RE), the key to realizing the low-carbon transformation of energy, is significant in reducing social carbon emissions (CEs). However, the regional differences in the impact of RE on CEs and the impact mechanism are still unclear. Clarifying the regional differences and impact mechanisms will encourage the government to formulate a development plan for RE in line with the actual situation. To explore the heterogeneous impacts and conduction paths of RE on CEs, this paper uses province-level data from 2000 to 2019 in China. Based on clarifying regional CE efficiency, panel quantile regression models are introduced to assess the differential impacts of RE at different CE efficiencies. And the conduction mechanism of the effect of RE on CE efficiency is explored through the parallel multiple mediation effect model. The results show that RE development, the accumulation of social affluence, and technological innovation can improve carbon efficiency while increasing population size and energy consumption inhibit carbon efficiency. Urbanization rate, industrial structure, and opening to the outside world affect travel alienation in regions with different levels of CE efficiency. RE development improves regional CE efficiency, which is more evident in regions with low and high efficiency. In addition, RE can increase CE efficiency indirectly through effects on population size, urbanization rate, scientific and technological innovation, and intensity of fossil energy consumption. However, it decreases CE efficiency indirectly through social enrichment. These findings will provide broader insights for improving the development of regional RE and formulating differentiated policies. Graphical abstract Heterogeneous impact of renewable energy on carbon efficiency and impact mechanisms