IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/pal/palcom/v11y2024i1d10.1057_s41599-024-02963-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Greening China’s digital economy: exploring the contribution of the East–West Computing Resources Transmission Project to CO2 reduction

Author

Listed:
  • Xuemei Xie

    (Tongji University)

  • Yuhang Han

    (Tongji University)

  • Hao Tan

    (Nottingham University Ningbo)

Abstract

China’s East–West Computing Resources Transmission Project (EWCRT Project) is a unique and innovative path toward developing China’s green digital economy. The EWCRT Project consists of building transregional digital infrastructure, including eight data center hubs and 10 data center clusters across China. Our estimations indicate that the EWCRT Project could result in a reduction of 2125 metric tons (Mt) of CO2 between 2020 and 2050. Combined with other improvement measures, such as an increase in power usage effectiveness (PUE) and a boost in the use of green electricity in these data centers, the project could result in a reduction of 9500 Mt of carbon emissions over the next three decades. Recognizing the heterogeneous makeup of data centers in general, it is crucial to identify diverse strategies that can transform each into “green engines” for the digital economy. Therefore, in this study, we use fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to characterize the complex conditions of different data center configurations. By doing so, we highlight differentiated strategies for data centers to support the greening of the digital economy.

Suggested Citation

  • Xuemei Xie & Yuhang Han & Hao Tan, 2024. "Greening China’s digital economy: exploring the contribution of the East–West Computing Resources Transmission Project to CO2 reduction," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-02963-0
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-024-02963-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1057/s41599-024-02963-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1057/s41599-024-02963-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Tilson & Kalle Lyytinen & Carsten Sørensen, 2010. "Research Commentary ---Digital Infrastructures: The Missing IS Research Agenda," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 21(4), pages 748-759, December.
    2. Xie, Xuemei & Wang, Hongwei, 2020. "How can open innovation ecosystem modes push product innovation forward? An fsQCA analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 29-41.
    3. Zhu, Yongnan & Ke, Jing & Wang, Jianhua & Liu, He & Jiang, Shan & Blum, Helcio & Zhao, Yong & He, Guohua & Meng, Yuan & Su, Jian, 2020. "Water transfer and losses embodied in the West–East electricity transmission project in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    4. Yueyang Zhao & Jinzhou Mao & Yueshan Li, 2022. "Local governments’ environmental emphasis and corporate green innovation: evidence from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 2577-2603, November.
    5. Ragin, Charles C., 2006. "Set Relations in Social Research: Evaluating Their Consistency and Coverage," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 291-310, July.
    6. Wang, Lei & Chen, Yangyang & Ramsey, Thomas Stephen & Hewings, Geoffrey J.D., 2021. "Will researching digital technology really empower green development?," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    7. Min Dai & Mingxing Sun & Bin Chen & Lei Shi & Mingzhou Jin & Yi Man & Ziyang Liang & Cecilia Maria Villas Bôas Almeida & Jiashuo Li & Pengfei Zhang & Anthony S. F. Chiu & Ming Xu & Huajun Yu & Jing Me, 2024. "Country-specific net-zero strategies of the pulp and paper industry," Nature, Nature, vol. 626(7998), pages 327-334, February.
    8. Cheng, Cong & Wang, Limin, 2022. "How companies configure digital innovation attributes for business model innovation? A configurational view," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    9. Liliane Manny & Mert Duygan & Manuel Fischer & Jörg Rieckermann, 2021. "Barriers to the digital transformation of infrastructure sectors," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(4), pages 943-983, December.
    10. Ouedraogo, Nadia S., 2017. "Africa energy future: Alternative scenarios and their implications for sustainable development strategies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 457-471.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Shuting Chen & Dengke Yu, 2024. "What Drives Business Model Innovation? Exploring the Role of Knowledge Management Capability in Chinese Top-Ranking Innovative Enterprises," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(2), pages 6390-6424, June.
    2. Zheng, Lu & Ulrich, Klaus & Sendra-García, Javier, 2021. "Qualitative comparative analysis: Configurational paths to innovation performance," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 83-93.
    3. Xingteng Li & Yue-e Chen, 2024. "How Does Management Control Affect New Product Development Performance? A Research Methodology with OLS and fsQCA," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Lin, Boqiang & Su, Tong, 2022. "Green bond vs conventional bond: Outline the rationale behind issuance choices in China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    5. Emily C. Bacon & Michael D. Williams, 2022. "Deconstructing the ivory tower: identifying challenges of university-industry ecosystem partnerships," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 113-134, January.
    6. Cheng, Cong & Wang, Limin, 2022. "How companies configure digital innovation attributes for business model innovation? A configurational view," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    7. Du, Yunzhou & Liu, Qiuchen & Kim, Phillip H. & Meuer, Johannes, 2024. "Studying complex causal processes in technological innovation and entrepreneurship with set-theoretic mediation models," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    8. Wang, Huan & Zheng, Leven J. & Zhang, Justin Zuopeng & Kumar, Ajay & Srivastava, Praveen Ranjan, 2024. "Unpacking complementarity in innovation ecosystems: A configurational analysis of knowledge transfer for achieving breakthrough innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    9. Xiaoxiang Wang & Songling Wu & Lixiang Zhao, 2023. "Research on the Improvement Path of Total Factor Productivity in the Industrial Software Industry: Evidence from Chinese Typical Firms," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-26, December.
    10. Srivardhini K. Jha & E. Richard Gold & Laurette Dubé, 2021. "Modular Interorganizational Network Governance: A Conceptual Framework for Addressing Complex Social Problems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    11. Prosman, Ernst Johannes & Cagliano, Raffaella, 2022. "A contingency perspective on manufacturing configurations for the circular economy: Insights from successful start-ups," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    12. Stefano D’Angelo & Angelo Cavallo & Antonio Ghezzi & Francesco Di Lorenzo, 2024. "Understanding corporate entrepreneurship in the digital age: a review and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(12), pages 3719-3774, December.
    13. Xueyang Wang & Xiumei Sun & Haotian Zhang & Chaokai Xue, 2022. "Digital Economy Development and Urban Green Innovation CA-Pability: Based on Panel Data of 274 Prefecture-Level Cities in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, March.
    14. Adekoya, Oluwasegun B. & Olabode, Joshua K. & Rafi, Syed K., 2021. "Renewable energy consumption, carbon emissions and human development: Empirical comparison of the trajectories of world regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1836-1848.
    15. Grohs, Reinhard & Raies, Karine & Koll, Oliver & Mühlbacher, Hans, 2016. "One pie, many recipes: Alternative paths to high brand strength," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(6), pages 2244-2251.
    16. Piotr Å asak & SÅ‚awomir WyciÅ›lak, 2023. "Blockchain and cloud platforms in banking services: A paradox perspective," Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, Fundacja Upowszechniająca Wiedzę i Naukę "Cognitione", vol. 19(4), pages 12-47.
    17. Barry Cooper & Judith Glaesser, 2016. "Analysing necessity and sufficiency with Qualitative Comparative Analysis: how do results vary as case weights change?," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 327-346, January.
    18. Guo, Jiaqi & Wang, Qiang & Li, Rongrong, 2024. "Can official development assistance promote renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa countries? A matter of institutional transparency of recipient countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C).
    19. Pradeep Racherla & Munir Mandviwalla, 2013. "Moving from Access to Use of the Information Infrastructure: A Multilevel Sociotechnical Framework," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 24(3), pages 709-730, September.
    20. Yu-Li Lin & Hsiu-Wen Liu & Fengzeng Xu & Hao Wang, 2016. "Environmental Conditions, Entrepreneur Alertness and Social Capital on Performance," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 9(8), pages 1-13, August.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:pal:palcom:v:11:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-024-02963-0. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.nature.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.