Research progress and prospects of clean energy supply chains

• Published in: Zi yuan ke xue Vol. 47; no. 7; pp. 1403 - 1419
• Main Authors: Min, WAN, Dewei, YANG, Haishan, MENG, Jingjing, CAI, Yijia, JI, Shuai, ZHANG, Yanfei, ZHANG, Tao, LONG
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: Science Press, PR China 01.07.2025
• Subjects: clean energy supply chain|knowledge graph|vosviewer|citespace|literature review
• ISSN: 1007-7588
• DOI: 10.18402/resci.2025.07.02

[Objective] As a key support for strategic emerging industries, clean energy supply chains play a central role in the global energy transition. In the context of the “dual carbon” goals and energy security demands, it is essential to systematically analyze the development paths and trends of clean energy supply chains, so as to provide decision-making references for enhancing the competitiveness of strategic emerging industries and building a new energy system. [Methods] This study employs bibliometric analysis and knowledge graph methods to construct a theoretical framework for clean energy supply chain research. It systematically reviews the research hotspots, frontier progress, and evolutionary trends in this field from 2005 to 2024, and thoroughly analyzes the key challenges and future trends. [Results] (1) The research shows distinct phases of development. Before 2016, the number of publications remained low with slow growth. After 2016, the field entered a rapid development stage, characterized by a regional pattern dominated by Europe and North America, with emerging Asian economies rapidly catching up. (2) In terms of research hotspots, recent studies have focused on risk optimization strategies, innovations in modeling and technology, and sustainable management of clean energy supply chains. (3) Regional comparative studies have shown significant differences between domestic and international research frontiers. In both cases, the evolution follows three stages: initiation, fluctuation, and rapid development. The research content shows increasing diversity and continuous expansion into new domains. (4) At the practical level, a series of key challenges persist, including uneven resource distribution, bottlenecks in key technologies, and information asymmetry. [Conclusion] Based on the above findings, future research on clean energy supply chains should focus on reconstructing a theoretical framework for supply chains with multi-dimensional integration, conducting in-depth analysis from multifunctional perspectives, revealing interactive feedback mechanisms of complex systems, and optimizing sustainable management pathways in alignment with strategic security objectives.