The Impact of Industrial Robots on Energy Efficiency: Evidence from Chinese Cities

Kalixia Buliesibaike, Yuhuan Zhao () and Jiayang Wang
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Kalixia Buliesibaike: School of Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Yuhuan Zhao: School of Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
Jiayang Wang: School of Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-21

Abstract: As an important driving force for intelligent transformation, the development and application of industrial robots have promoted the transformation of traditional production modes and the upgrading of energy utilization methods, playing a significant role in improving energy efficiency. Based on the panel data of 283 prefectural-level cities in China from 2008 to 2019, this study used a two-way fixed-effects model to examine the impact of industrial robots on urban energy efficiency. The study found that industrial robots significantly improve energy efficiency, with the mechanisms including scale effects, structural effects, and green technology effects. Heterogeneity analysis shows that this effect is more prominent in innovative cities, central and western regions, and areas with high human capital. The research provides a basis for understanding the pathways through which industrial robots promote the improvement of energy efficiency and offers policy insights for China to advance intelligent manufacturing and green development.

Keywords: industrial robots; energy efficiency; scale economies; structural upgrading; green technology (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: 2025
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