How does industrial intelligence affect regional energy efficiency? The role of green finance

As global environmental pressures intensify, energy efficiency ( EE ) has become a key focus for both scholars and policymakers. However, limited research has deeply explored the impact of industrial intelligence ( INI ) on regional EE . Using panel data from 242 prefecture-level cities in China between 2008 and 2022, this study employs the instrumental variable generalized method of moments (IV-GMM) to examine the relationship between INI and EE . The results reveal that INI significantly enhances regional EE , primarily through labor structure optimization and economies of scale. Additionally, the impact of INI on EE is non-linear, with stronger effects at higher levels of INI . Green finance is found to positively moderate the relationship between INI and EE . These findings suggest that policies promoting industrial intelligence and green finance can effectively improve energy efficiency at the regional level. • Industrial intelligence ( INI ) significantly improves energy efficiency ( EE ), with stronger marginal effects at higher levels of INI development. • INI enhances EE through labor structure upgrading (without increasing unemployment) and the realization of economies of scale. • Green finance ( GF ) not only promotes EE directly but also positively moderates the relationship between INI and EE.