The new smart city programme: Evaluating the effect of the internet of energy on air quality in China

The internet of energy conforms to the trend of clean, electrified, networked, and intelligent urban energy systems and is a new solution for the green development of smart cities. Using air-quality-index big data from official publications for 2018 to 2019, this study performs a quasi-natural experiment to assess the impact of internet of energy demonstration projects in China. Using a difference-in-difference test, it is found that this initiative improves the air quality of pilot cities. After estimating a spatial panel regression model, we find that the spatial radiation effect of the policy indicates that the air quality around the pilot city is also improved. This study provides empirical evidence for the promotion and application of internet of energy projects. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.