Green technological innovation and global energy security: evidence from 61 economies

The global energy security is facing increasing challenges. Most economies still depend largely on imports of fossil fuels, and geopolitical tensions make them vulnerable to supply shocks and price fluctuations. The current energy crisis in Europe has demonstrated the quick transmission of such shocks across borders. The Green Technology Innovation (GTI) can tackle such challenges through diversification of energy sources, minimizing reliance on energy imports, and enhancing the domestic energy production capabilities. But the role of GTI in this context has received comparatively little scholarly consideration. The present paper examines the impact of GTI on energy security using panel data for 61 countries over the period of 2002–2024. To estimate the non-linear dependence, we use copula modeling, Method of Moments Quantile Regression, and Quantile Random Forest. Findings reveal that the GTI has significant contributions to the enhancement of energy security in all quantiles, with more improvements among energy-vulnerable nations. The GTI can enhance energy security in two different ways. It enhances energy efficiency and reduces dependence on fossil fuels through rapid adoption of alternative and renewable energy sources. However, developed and OECD nations benefit more because of strong institutional and infrastructural development. This study has important policy implications. Energy security policies should include GTI not just for environmental purposes but rather as the key to achieving energy security. Continuous investments in green R&D, transferring technology from developed to developing nations, and the inclusion of innovation policies in energy security plans are important.