Considering the continuing slowdown of the improvement in energy intensity around the world, it is essential to seek a more effective measure to address the dilemma of energy and sustainable development. To this end, this research attempts to provide fresh insight into the determinants of energy intensity from the perspective of industrial robots and an industry-based view. By applying the dynamic panel GMM estimate methodology to a new data panel that includes 38 countries and 17 manufacturing sectors, this study provides the first comprehensive assessment of the use of industrial robots on manufacturing energy intensity. We found that industrial robots could significantly improve manufacturing energy intensity, and our hypotheses passed a series of robustness tests. Moreover, this improvement effect works through the technology improvement effect and technological complement effect between industrial robots and labor. Finally, we found a heterogeneous nexus exists between industrial robots and manufacturing energy intensity. Specifically, industrial robots can exert influence on non-renewable energy intensity rather than renewable energy intensity. Compared to capital-intensive sectors, we found that the use of industrial robots mainly affected labor-intensive sectors. We also found that Industry 4.0 could promote the improvement effects of industrial robots on manufacturing energy intensity.

考虑到全球能源强度改善的持续放缓，寻求更有效的措施来解决能源与可持续发展的困境至关重要。为此，本研究试图从工业机器人的角度和基于行业的观点对能源强度的决定因素提供新的见解。通过将动态面板 GMM 估计方法应用于包括 38 个国家和 17 个制造业部门的新数据面板，本研究首次全面评估了工业机器人的使用对制造能源强度的影响。我们发现工业机器人可以显着提高制造能源强度，我们的假设通过了一系列稳健性测试。而且，这种改进效应通过工业机器人与劳动力之间的技术改进效应和技术互补效应起作用。最后，我们发现工业机器人与制造能源强度之间存在异质联系。具体而言，工业机器人可以对不可再生能源强度而非可再生能源强度产生影响。与资本密集型行业相比，我们发现工业机器人的使用主要影响劳动密集型行业。我们还发现，工业 4.0 可以促进工业机器人对制造能源强度的改善效果。工业机器人可以对不可再生能源强度而非可再生能源强度产生影响。与资本密集型行业相比，我们发现工业机器人的使用主要影响劳动密集型行业。我们还发现，工业 4.0 可以促进工业机器人对制造能源强度的改善效果。工业机器人可以对不可再生能源强度而非可再生能源强度产生影响。与资本密集型行业相比，我们发现工业机器人的使用主要影响劳动密集型行业。我们还发现，工业 4.0 可以促进工业机器人对制造能源强度的改善效果。