A Study on the Impact of Synergistic Effects Between Digital Infrastructure and Clean Energy Development on Regional Economies

In the context of global digital transformation and the “dual carbon” goals, digital infrastructure and clean energy serve as pivotal drivers of regional economic development. However, whether their synergistic effect can promote high-quality regional economic growth remains unclear, and potential regional disparities warrant investigation. Therefore, based on panel data from 30 Chinese provinces spanning 2010 to 2023, this study measures the synergy level between digital infrastructure and clean energy development using a coupling coordination degree model. It empirically examines their impact on regional economic performance through fixed-effect and mediation effect models. The findings indicate that the synergistic effect of digital infrastructure and clean energy development significantly promotes regional economic growth, with its impact exceeding their individual contributions. Such influence manifests more evidently within China’s eastern provinces, where industrial structure upgrading and green technological innovation function as two underlying mediating channels. These conclusions offer theoretical and practical insights for optimizing regional development policies and fostering the synergistic integration of digitalization and green transformation.