The Environmental Impact of Unconventional Energy Technology Citations: A Network Analysis Perspective

The contemporary world places a high degree of focus on the sustainable development of energy, with technological innovation in unconventional energy becoming a key driver of the global energy revolution. From a network analysis perspective, this paper constructs a patent citation network for unconventional energy technologies to empirically investigate the environmental impact of their influence. This study finds that an increase in the influence of domestic unconventional energy technology patents can reduce the embodied energy intensity of industries, but it also exhibits an energy rebound effect, which in turn promotes industrial carbon emissions. Citing foreign patented technologies does not significantly improve the environmental problems faced by domestic industries; on the contrary, it increases industrial greenhouse gas emissions. However, international energy technology cooperation can partially mitigate this negative impact. In response, this study recommends strengthening diversified investment in and cross-industry application of unconventional energy technologies, enhance international cooperation and policy coordination, focus on balancing the conflict between technological innovation and environmental goals, and maximize the environmental improvement potential of unconventional energy technologies.