Econ Papers Daily / 期刊论文
循环经济实践与清洁能源转型绩效：关键矿物循环性和政策严格性在欧盟能源密集型企业中的调节作用
Circular economy practices and clean energy transition performance: the moderating role of critical mineral circularity and policy stringency among EU energy-intensive firms
摘要
The clean energy transition demands unprecedented quantities of critical minerals — lithium, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements — with demand projected to rise six-fold by 2030, far beyond what primary mining alone can supply. Circular economy (CE) practices offer a strategic pathway to close this mineral gap while simultaneously reducing the carbon intensity of energy production. Yet despite growing scholarly interest, the empirical relationship between firm-level CE adoption and energy transition performance (ETP) remains fragmented across disciplines, with no unified framework linking these constructs at scale. This study addresses that gap through a two-phase mixed-methods design. Phase 1 delivers a PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis of 405 synthesised articles, confirming the absence of firm-level empirical models in this nexus. Phase 2 develops and tests multi-level conceptual model grounded in Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the Natural Resource-Based View, and Institutional Theory, using structural equation modelling–partial least squares (SEM-PLS) on survey data from 318 EU energy-intensive firms, complemented by fixed-effects panel regression merging Eurostat and IEA databases. CE practices significantly predict ETP (β = 0.312, p < 0.001). This study makes three contributions: an empirically validated firm-level framework linking CE practices to ETP, which to our knowledge is the first of its kind at this scale; the introduction of critical mineral circularity as novel strategic moderator; and cross-national evidence on how policy environments condition the CE–energy transition nexus. Findings carry direct implications for corporate supply chain strategy, EU regulatory design, and achievement of SDG 7, SDG 12, and SDG 13.
中文摘要
清洁能源转型对关键矿产——锂、钴、铜和稀土元素——的需求达到了前所未有的规模，预计到2030年需求将增长六倍，远远超出仅靠初级采矿所能供应的水平。循环经济（CE）实践为弥合这一矿产缺口提供了一条战略路径，同时还能降低能源生产的碳强度。然而，尽管学术界兴趣日益浓厚，企业层面CE采纳与能源转型绩效（ETP）之间的实证关系仍分散于各学科之中，尚无统一框架在规模化层面将这两个构念联系起来。本研究通过两阶段混合方法设计来填补这一空白。第一阶段开展了符合PRISMA规范的系统性文献综述和对405篇综合文献的文献计量分析，证实该交叉领域中缺乏企业层面的实证模型。第二阶段基于动态能力理论、自然资源基础观和制度理论，开发并检验了一个多层次概念模型，采用偏最小二乘结构方程模型（SEM-PLS）对来自318家欧盟能源密集型企业进行调查数据分析，并辅以合并Eurostat和IEA数据库的固定效应面板回归。CE实践显著预测ETP（β = 0.312，p < 0.001）。本研究作出三项贡献：一个经实证验证的、将CE实践与ETP联系起来的企业层面框架，据我们所知，这是该规模上的首个此类框架；引入关键矿产循环性作为新的战略调节变量；以及关于政策环境如何调节CE—能源转型关系的跨国证据。研究发现对企业供应链战略、欧盟监管设计以及SDG 7、SDG 12和SDG 13的实现具有直接启示。