Evolution and policy effect assessment for the spatial heterogeneity pattern of regional energy efficiency in China

Energy security and environmental pollution have become key issues affecting the sustainable development of China's economy and society. Therefore, it is particularly important for China to adopt effective policies and measures to control the excessive growth of energy consumption and improve energy efficiency. This paper uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) to measure the total-factor energy efficiencies (TFEEs) of 30 provincial-level administrative regions in China from 2008 to 2017 and analyses the evolution of the spatial heterogeneity pattern of regional energy efficiency. Then, a spatial autocorrelation approach is applied to explore the spatial agglomeration characteristics of regional energy efficiency in China, and GeoDetector is used to assess the direct and cross-driving effects of five policy types on spatial heterogeneity and agglomeration characteristics. The results show that the spatial heterogeneity pattern of regional energy efficiency in China is significantly higher in the eastern area than in the central and western areas, with strong spatial agglomeration characteristics overall, but especially significant agglomeration in areas with low energy efficiency. Urbanisation is the leading policy driving spatial heterogeneity, and the interaction factors, especially those including urbanisation, form the most significant multiple spatial overlapping interaction effects. To improve regional energy efficiency, the government should consider overall national goals and the characteristics driving the spatial heterogeneity of energy efficiency and implement differentiated policies.