IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i12p6823-d576256.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy Cost Performance of Thermal Power Industry in China Considering Regional Heterogeneity: A Meta-Frontier Cost Malmquist Productivity Decomposition Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Zhigang Zhu

    (School of Management, Zhejiang University of Technology, Zhejiang 310014, China)

  • Xuping Zhang

    (China Academy of Financial Research, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Zhejiang 310018, China)

  • Yujia Wang

    (China Academy of Financial Research, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Zhejiang 310018, China)

  • Xiang Chen

    (China Academy of Financial Research, Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics, Zhejiang 310018, China)

Abstract

Since thermal power generation is still one of the main sources of carbon emissions in China, the economic benefits and productivity of the thermal power generation industry have been seriously affected in recent years with the increasingly strict environmental regulations and restrictions on carbon emissions, as well as by the sharp fluctuations of coal prices. Therefore, it has been an important issue to improve the productivity performance of the thermal power industry. Due to the regional heterogeneity among different regions of China, we introduced a meta-frontier framework into the energy cost productivity model to develop a meta-energy cost productivity model. The energy cost gap between the group-specific and meta-frontiers was also utilized to assess the convergence rate of the group-specific frontier to the meta-frontier. The estimated results present that the energy cost efficiency of the eastern region outperformed that of the other two regions, and the cost Malmquist (CM) productivity of these three regions all showed positive growth, in which the progress of allocative efficiency and price effect were the main driving factors. Additionally, the central and western regions displayed the convergence of group-specific CM productivity towards the meta-frontier.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhigang Zhu & Xuping Zhang & Yujia Wang & Xiang Chen, 2021. "Energy Cost Performance of Thermal Power Industry in China Considering Regional Heterogeneity: A Meta-Frontier Cost Malmquist Productivity Decomposition Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:12:p:6823-:d:576256
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/12/6823/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/12/6823/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chang, Tzu-Pu & Hu, Jin-Li, 2010. "Total-factor energy productivity growth, technical progress, and efficiency change: An empirical study of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(10), pages 3262-3270, October.
    2. Feng, Chao & Huang, Jian-Bai & Wang, Miao, 2018. "Analysis of green total-factor productivity in China's regional metal industry: A meta-frontier approach," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 219-229.
    3. Zhou, Yan & Xing, Xinpeng & Fang, Kuangnan & Liang, Dapeng & Xu, Chunlin, 2013. "Environmental efficiency analysis of power industry in China based on an entropy SBM model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 68-75.
    4. Zhao, Xiaoli & Lyon, Thomas P. & Song, Cui, 2012. "Lurching towards markets for power: China’s electricity policy 1985–2007," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 148-155.
    5. Kumar, Surender, 2006. "Environmentally sensitive productivity growth: A global analysis using Malmquist-Luenberger index," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 56(2), pages 280-293, February.
    6. Assaf, A. George & Barros, Carlos Pestana & Managi, Shunsuke, 2011. "Cost efficiency of Japanese steam power generation companies: A Bayesian comparison of random and fixed frontier models," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(4), pages 1441-1446, April.
    7. Chen, Xiang, 2020. "Exploring the sources of financial performance in Chinese banks: A comparative analysis of different types of banks," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    8. Pastor, Jesus T. & Lovell, C.A. Knox, 2005. "A global Malmquist productivity index," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 266-271, August.
    9. Li, Hong-Zhou & Tian, Xian-Liang & Zou, Tao, 2015. "Impact analysis of coal-electricity pricing linkage scheme in China based on stochastic frontier cost function," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 296-305.
    10. Zhang, Ning & Zhou, P. & Choi, Yongrok, 2013. "Energy efficiency, CO2 emission performance and technology gaps in fossil fuel electricity generation in Korea: A meta-frontier non-radial directional distance functionanalysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 653-662.
    11. Yu, William & Jamasb, Tooraj & Pollitt, Michael, 2009. "Does weather explain cost and quality performance? An analysis of UK electricity distribution companies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(11), pages 4177-4188, November.
    12. Maniadakis, Nikolaos & Thanassoulis, Emmanuel, 2004. "A cost Malmquist productivity index," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(2), pages 396-409, April.
    13. Caves, Douglas W & Christensen, Laurits R & Diewert, W Erwin, 1982. "The Economic Theory of Index Numbers and the Measurement of Input, Output, and Productivity," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(6), pages 1393-1414, November.
    14. Olatubi, Williams O. & Dismukes, David E., 2000. "A data envelopment analysis of the levels and determinants of coal-fired electric power generation performance," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 47-59, June.
    15. Lam, Pun-Lee, 2004. "Pricing of electricity in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 287-300.
    16. Wang, Yi-Shu & Xie, Bai-Chen & Shang, Li-Feng & Li, Wen-Hua, 2013. "Measures to improve the performance of China’s thermal power industry in view of cost efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1078-1086.
    17. Kaneko, Shinji & Fujii, Hidemichi & Sawazu, Naoya & Fujikura, Ryo, 2010. "Financial allocation strategy for the regional pollution abatement cost of reducing sulfur dioxide emissions in the thermal power sector in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(5), pages 2131-2141, May.
    18. Mou, Dunguo, 2014. "Understanding China’s electricity market reform from the perspective of the coal-fired power disparity," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 224-234.
    19. Ou, Xunmin & Xiaoyu, Yan & Zhang, Xiliang, 2011. "Life-cycle energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for electricity generation and supply in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(1), pages 289-297, January.
    20. Bi, Gong-Bing & Song, Wen & Zhou, P. & Liang, Liang, 2014. "Does environmental regulation affect energy efficiency in China's thermal power generation? Empirical evidence from a slacks-based DEA model," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 537-546.
    21. Wang, Ke & Wei, Yi-Ming & Zhang, Xian, 2012. "A comparative analysis of China’s regional energy and emission performance: Which is the better way to deal with undesirable outputs?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 574-584.
    22. Fare, Rolf & Grosskopf, Shawna & Yaisawarng, Suthathip & Li, Sung Ko & Wang, Zhaoping, 1990. "Productivity growth in Illinois electric utilities," Resources and Energy, Elsevier, vol. 12(4), pages 383-398, December.
    23. Lam, Pun-Lee & Shiu, Alice, 2001. "A data envelopment analysis of the efficiency of China's thermal power generation," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 75-83, June.
    24. Ke Wang & Jieming Zhang & Yi-Ming Wei, 2017. "Operational and environmental performance in China¡¯s thermal power industry: Taking an effectiveness measure as complement to an efficiency measure," CEEP-BIT Working Papers 100, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research (CEEP), Beijing Institute of Technology.
    25. Abbott, Malcolm, 2006. "The productivity and efficiency of the Australian electricity supply industry," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 444-454, July.
    26. Charnes, A. & Cooper, W. W. & Rhodes, E., 1978. "Measuring the efficiency of decision making units," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 2(6), pages 429-444, November.
    27. Fare, Rolf & Grosskopf, Shawna & Logan, James, 1983. "The relative efficiency of Illinois electric utilities," Resources and Energy, Elsevier, vol. 5(4), pages 349-367, December.
    28. Eguchi, Shogo & Takayabu, Hirotaka & Lin, Chen, 2021. "Sources of inefficient power generation by coal-fired thermal power plants in China: A metafrontier DEA decomposition approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    29. Fare, Rolf & Shawna Grosskopf & Mary Norris & Zhongyang Zhang, 1994. "Productivity Growth, Technical Progress, and Efficiency Change in Industrialized Countries," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(1), pages 66-83, March.
    30. Yu, Bolin & Fang, Debin & Dong, Feng, 2020. "Study on the evolution of thermal power generation and its nexus with economic growth: Evidence from EU regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    31. Yunos, Jamaluddin Mohd & Hawdon, David, 1997. "The efficiency of the National Electricity Board in Malaysia: An intercountry comparison using DEA," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(2), pages 255-269, May.
    32. N/A, 2004. "Index for 2004," European Union Politics, , vol. 5(4), pages 511-512, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xuefeng Zheng & Xiufan Zhang & Decheng Fan, 2023. "Research on the Coordinated Development of Innovation Ability and Regional Integration in Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wang, Yi-Shu & Xie, Bai-Chen & Shang, Li-Feng & Li, Wen-Hua, 2013. "Measures to improve the performance of China’s thermal power industry in view of cost efficiency," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1078-1086.
    2. Sueyoshi, Toshiyuki & Yuan, Yan & Goto, Mika, 2017. "A literature study for DEA applied to energy and environment," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 104-124.
    3. Zhou, P. & Ang, B.W. & Poh, K.L., 2008. "A survey of data envelopment analysis in energy and environmental studies," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 189(1), pages 1-18, August.
    4. Li, Feng & Zhang, Danlu & Zhang, Jinyu & Kou, Gang, 2022. "Measuring the energy production and utilization efficiency of Chinese thermal power industry with the fixed-sum carbon emission constraint," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    5. Li, Ming-Jia & Tao, Wen-Quan, 2017. "Review of methodologies and polices for evaluation of energy efficiency in high energy-consuming industry," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 203-215.
    6. Song, Malin & Wang, Jianlin, 2018. "Environmental efficiency evaluation of thermal power generation in China based on a slack-based endogenous directional distance function model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 325-336.
    7. Emrouznejad, Ali & Yang, Guo-liang, 2016. "CO2 emissions reduction of Chinese light manufacturing industries: A novel RAM-based global Malmquist–Luenberger productivity index," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 397-410.
    8. Ogunrinde, Olawale & Shittu, Ekundayo, 2023. "Efficiency and productivity of renewable energy technologies: Evidence from U.S. investor-owned utilities across regional markets," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    9. Bansal, Pooja & Kumar, Sunil & Mehra, Aparna & Gulati, Rachita, 2022. "Developing two dynamic Malmquist-Luenberger productivity indices: An illustrated application for assessing productivity performance of Indian banks," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    10. Barnabé Walheer, 2018. "Cost Malmquist productivity index: an output-specific approach for group comparison," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 79-94, February.
    11. Reza Fallahnejad & Mohammad Reza Mozaffari & Peter Fernandes Wanke & Yong Tan, 2024. "Nash Bargaining Game Enhanced Global Malmquist Productivity Index for Cross-Productivity Index," Games, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-21, January.
    12. Wang, Ke & Wei, Yi-Ming & Huang, Zhimin, 2018. "Environmental efficiency and abatement efficiency measurements of China's thermal power industry: A data envelopment analysis based materials balance approach," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 269(1), pages 35-50.
    13. Liang Chun Lu & Yung-ho Chiu & Shih-Yung Chiu & Tzu-Han Chang, 2022. "Do Forests help environmental development of Cities in China?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(5), pages 6602-6629, May.
    14. Jamasb, Tooraj & Pollitt, Michael & Triebs, Thomas, 2008. "Productivity and efficiency of US gas transmission companies: A European regulatory perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 3398-3412, September.
    15. Sedef E. Kara & Mustapha D. Ibrahim & Sahand Daneshvar, 2021. "Dual Efficiency and Productivity Analysis of Renewable Energy Alternatives of OECD Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-14, July.
    16. Hsiao-Yin Chen & Chin-wei Huang & Yung-Ho Chiu, 2017. "An intertemporal efficiency and technology measurement for tourist hotel," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 85-96, August.
    17. Eguchi, Shogo & Takayabu, Hirotaka & Lin, Chen, 2021. "Sources of inefficient power generation by coal-fired thermal power plants in China: A metafrontier DEA decomposition approach," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    18. Adel Hatami-Marbini & Aliasghar Arabmaldar & John Otu Asu, 2022. "Robust productivity growth and efficiency measurement with undesirable outputs: evidence from the oil industry," OR Spectrum: Quantitative Approaches in Management, Springer;Gesellschaft für Operations Research e.V., vol. 44(4), pages 1213-1254, December.
    19. Barnabé Walheer, 2022. "Global Malmquist and cost Malmquist indexes for group comparison," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 75-93, August.
    20. Mardani, Abbas & Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras & Streimikiene, Dalia & Jusoh, Ahmad & Khoshnoudi, Masoumeh, 2017. "A comprehensive review of data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach in energy efficiency," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1298-1322.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:12:p:6823-:d:576256. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.