Empirical Research On Energy Efficiency Technology Innovation In Foshan City, Guangdong Province

Energy efficiency is considered as a key index to insure the good use of energyresources and sustainable development. In the present, extreme weather events occurfrequently, followed with rises in oil price. Improving energy efficiency would directlyreduce economical shocks brought by energy crisis, as well as reduce negative impactbrought by climate changes.To promote energy efficiency, China has published policies to provide financial support,readjust industrial structure and emerge technology activities. Whereas the effects are stillneeded to be strengthened. To accomplish the important energy-saving goals of theTwelfth Five-year Plan, there is a need to improve present policies by studying energyefficiency innovation and factors which influence the innovation activities.Therefore, this study would focus on present energy efficiency innovation in industrialarea in Foshan. Based on the review of relevant theories, empirical study methods wouldbe used to do a questionnaire survey of118industrial companies to analyze drivers andbarriers towards energy efficiency technology innovation. Policy proposal would be madein the end.According to this study, we found that the cognition of energy-saving has generallyexisted and energy-saving technologies or products have been used in producingprocedures. We also found that the most important barrier is technological barrier. R&Dactivities by Chinese government are widely expected. So we concluded that R&Dactivities would make significant effect on emerging industrial energy saving.Furthermore, it is obvious that the correlations between firm age, firm size and barriersare positive. In other words, with firm age increasing and firm size expanding, the abilityof capturing information and the demand towards energy efficiency technology increase aswell.