Spatial-temporal variation and coupling analysis of residential energy consumption and economic growth in China

The residential energy consumption in China shows diversity and complexity in space. This paper aims to investigate the spatial pattern and evolution trends of four kinds of residential energy consumption (electricity, coal, oil, and natural gas) through gravity center modeling and standard deviational ellipse modeling. Further, their relations to economic growth are probed by using the coupling and coordination degree model. Panel data at the provincial level in China are collected from 2000 to 2019. Our results show that the most drastic movement trend of gravity centers is coal, natural gas, followed by oil, whereas electricity moved slightly in space. Further, the standard deviational ellipse of electricity exhibits relatively stable patterns than the other three residential energy consumption during the study period. In addition, the coupling coordination degree between residential energy consumption and the economic growth is examined, and the results indicate that the total residential electricity consumption shows the highest coupling coordination degree, followed by residential gas, oil, and coal. It demonstrates lower coupling coordination degrees in rural areas than in urban areas in the total and sectoral residential energy consumption. In sum, several policy implications can be demonstrated based on our findings, i.e., the development of electricity consumption in the residential energy structure may improve the energy stability in space in China, and ensuring access to electricity should be taken into further consideration in the development of residential energy improvement to achieve a better coordination level to economic development.

Automated summary

This paper investigates the spatial pattern and evolution trends of residential energy consumption in China, as well as its relations to economic growth. The results show that coal and natural gas experience the most drastic movement trend of gravity centers, while electricity remains relatively stable. The study also finds that residential electricity consumption exhibits the highest coupling coordination degree with economic growth.