Policy-Driven Spatiotemporal Evolution of New Energy Technological Correlation Networks in China

The global shift towards low-carbon economies underscores the critical role of new energy (NE) technologies in addressing climate change and ensuring energy security. China’s renewable energy sector serves as a prime example of this transition. However, the sector faces significant challenges, including technological fragmentation characterized by isolated R&D efforts that impede knowledge diffusion, and regional disparities that marginalize firms in inland and western regions within innovation networks. This study examines the spatiotemporal evolution of China’s new energy technological correlation networks across 208 firms (2006–2023) using social network analysis. The findings reveal a four-stage progression from fragmentation (2006–2010) to regional clustering (2011–2015), followed by core–periphery differentiation (2016–2020), culminating in multipolar synergy (2021–2023). Policy cycles are closely associated with structural shifts, with coastal hubs leveraging policy-industrial advantages whilst inland areas grow via technology diffusion. This study proposes the policy-driven effect, where subsidies anchor scale expansion, whereas phase-outs are linked to quality enhancement. Phase-adaptive strategies are recommended to transition from scale-driven to innovation-quality paradigms.