Navigating and Overcoming Barriers to Digital Energy Transition for Carbon Neutrality in China

Shuao Sun () and Sheeraz Ahmed ()
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Shuao Sun: School of Economics and Management, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan 063210, China
Sheeraz Ahmed: School of Economics and Management, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-23

Abstract: As China strives for carbon neutrality, the transition to digital energy systems presents both significant opportunities and formidable challenges. This study investigates the key barriers hindering this transition and the urgent need for effective strategies to address them, raising the critical research question: What are the main obstacles to digital energy adoption in China, and how can these challenges be overcome? In this study, the fuzzy AHP method has been utilized to prioritize barriers and fuzzy WASPAS to evaluate the strategies. Using fuzzy AHP, we found that stakeholder and governance barriers are the most critical, emphasizing issues like misalignment among stakeholders and governance challenges. Following this, financial constraints and technological limitations emerged as other significant barriers, highlighting the need for improved financing mechanisms and robust infrastructure. Through fuzzy WASPAS analysis, the top strategies identified are enhancing public awareness and capacity-building programs, strengthening governance and anti-corruption measures, and increasing investment in green finance. The results emphasize the importance of tackling governance and financial issues alongside technological advancements. Policy implications and recommendations are provided to guide China’s digital energy transition, with suggestions for future research focused on broader regional comparisons and the integration of emerging technologies.

Keywords: digital energy transition; carbon neutrality; climate change; policy implications; fuzzy AHP; fuzzy WASPAS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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