Can ICT Efficiency and Environmental Regulation have a Synergic Effect on Low-carbon Energy Technology Development?

Low-carbon energy technology (LCET) holds the key to unlocking a harmonious coordination between energy consumption and environmental preservation, paving the way for a resilient and sustainable future. We consider the role of information and communication technology (ICT) efficiency and environmental regulation (ER) in promoting LCET based on the dataset in China during 2001–2019. We also explore the joint effect of ICT efficiency and ER on LCET. Moreover, the impact mechanisms are fully explored. The findings are as follows: (1) ICT efficiency and ER both have positive impacts on LCET, which means that they have individual low-carbon technological innovation effects. (2) The interaction of ICT efficiency and ER contributes to the rise of LCET. In other words, these two factors work synergistically to promote the development of LCET. (3) Heterogeneous effect suggests that the combined promotion effect of ICT efficiency and ER on LCET is more remarkable in regions with better economic development. (4) ICT efficiency affects LCET by encouraging R&D and fiscal spending on the environment, which means that R&D and fiscal spending on the environment are two transmission mechanisms between ER and LCET. The conclusions recommend that the government should promote ICT efficiency and ER to spur LCET development.