Lin Zhang
An Energy & Sustainability Economist
Selected Publications on Energy Economics
My current research is primarily in the area of energy economics with a focus on energy policies that contribute to the sustainable development of the society. The main objectives of my research are two folds: 1) investigation of effectiveness (efficiency and equity) of energy policies under implementation or discussion, which will lead to 2) the development of sustainable energy policies to tackle greenhouse gases emissions and global climate change. A success of the research will not only be appreciated in scientific communities, but also bring us closer to the realisation of a greener society.
Energy transition is commonly regarded as being driven by economic growth. However, we present compelling evidence that the energy transition may not only contribute to income growth but could also reduce inequality. By establishing causal relationships between SDG 1, 7, and 10, our study demonstrates a significant potential for advancing clean energy solutions to promote sustainable development.
The thirst for power: the impacts of water availability on electricity generation in China
The Energy Journal
Economic development under restricted resource availability has become a complex challenge. To maintain a sustainable electricity supply and mitigate the impact of water shortage on economic development, it is therefore important to understand how utility firms respond to the change in water availability and unpacks the underlying mechanisms of power outage. Water scarcity slows down the transition towards renewable energy.
Green bond issuance promotes green innovation, with stronger effects observed in regions with weaker climate regulation, industries exhibiting better environmental performance, and firms with more concentrated ownership. This upsurge in green innovation not only enhances financial performance but also yields specific environmental benefits, such as improved environmental investment and ESG performance.
Correcting the uneven burden sharing of emission reduction across provinces in China
Energy Economics
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This paper proposes an allocation principle based on the efficiency levels. The efficiency levels are estimated by employing a stochastic frontier analysis approach and the links between energy intensity and efficiency are constructed. Efficiency-based allocation can distribute reduction burdens among regions smoothly compared to the intensity-based allocation.
Carbon policy in a high-growth economy: The case of China
Resource and Energy Economics
There is widespread concern that a stringent international climate agreement will not be reached because it would imply too high costs for fast growing economies. We highlight that lower economic growth, faster energy technology development, and stronger induced innovation reduce welfare losses significantly. Increased urbanization raises the policy costs because urban households consume more energy and energy intensive goods.
This article combines the stochastic frontier method with the panel Markov-switching regression to model energy efficiency transitions. The estimated energy efficiency scores show significant regional and provincial heterogeneity. The unsustainable nature of the high energy-efficient state suggests that in China, there are weak energy efficiency efforts and energy efficiency policies lack robustness.