A multi-level perspective on technological advancement in China's natural gas industry

• Published in: Energy research & social science 2025-02, Vol.120, p.103877, Article 103877
• Main Authors: Chen, Junhua, Zeng, Qiuhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Generic technology; Multi-level perspective; Ridge regression analysis; Technology diffusion; Technology integration; The third energy transition
• ISSN: 2214-6296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103877

The third global energy transition is progressing unevenly, leading to complex challenges worldwide. As China accelerates its energy transition to mitigate carbon emissions, the natural gas industry has become a focal point of development. The present study examines the current state of the Chinese natural gas industry and explores strategies to overcome technical barriers. An enhanced multi-level perspective (MLP) framework that incorporates the concepts of technology integration and diffusion is proposed. With data from 2011 to 2022, a ridge regression model is employed to analyze the impact of these technological factors on the upstream natural gas sector in China. A case study is performed to assess the strategic interplay between technology integration and diffusion. The results demonstrate that (1) China's natural gas industry has reached a technical bottleneck and inefficient development, facing challenges such as the advancement of disruptive and generic technologies; (2) the selected indicators positively and significantly influence natural gas production, demonstrating that technology integration and diffusion are beneficial for the industry's growth; (3) the improved MLP framework broadens its application, providing a pathway for technological advancement in emerging economies or developing countries. Targeted recommendations in technology integration, technical exchange, personnel training, and policy design are provided.