Can digital-green technology integration reduce corporate energy consumption? - Empirical evidence from Chinese patent data

Based on the sample of Chinese A-share listed companies from 2012 to 2023, this paper identifies digital-green technology integration (DGTI) patents by matching the IPC codes from the Key Digital Technology Patent Classification System (2023) and the Green Technology Patent Classification System . It explores the direct impact and indirect mechanisms of DGTI on corporate energy consumption (CEC). The findings indicate: (1) DGTI significantly reduces CEC, and this conclusion remains robust after a series of robustness tests. (2) DGTI reduces CEC by improving the efficiency of capital and labor allocation. Furthermore, environmental uncertainty mitigates the inhibitory effect of DGTI on CEC. (3) Heterogeneity analysis shows that the inhibitory effect of DGTI is stronger in regions with advanced digital infrastructure and higher carbon intensity, and is more pronounced in high-tech and non-heavily polluting industries, as well as among firms with lower ESG performance and higher digitalization levels.