Multi-criteria decision analysis of China's energy security from 2008 to 2017 based on Fuzzy BWM-DEA-AR model and Malmquist Productivity Index

Energy security has become one of the growing concerns of many countries as well as the policy makers and decision-makers. This study aims to investigate the energy security performances of 30 Chinese provinces within the period of 2008-2017 by proposing a hybrid model that integrated Fuzzy Best-Worst Method, Data Envelopment Analysis and Assurance Regions. The dynamic trend of energy security performances of these provinces during this period has also been analyzed by using Malmquist Productivity Index. It was found that China's provincial energy security has shown great variance, and the eastern and southern coastal provinces have experienced better energy security performance than that of the western and northern regions. In addition, China still improved its energy security performance during this period even it has been the country with the fastest growth in world energy consumption in recent decades. Specifically, energy security performance in the middle and western provinces seems to have made more progress than the coasts. Technological progress and energy innovations can help to improve China's energy security by diversifying the energy supply sources/pathways and improving the energy efficiency, which is of great significance for the development of clean and sustainable energy. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Energy security performances of Chinese provinces vary significantly, with better performance in eastern and southern coastal provinces. The middle and western provinces seem to have made more progress in energy security performance, despite China's rapid growth in energy consumption. Technological progress and energy innovations are key to improving China's energy security.