Can the new energy pilot policy improve China's urban energy economic efficiency?

The global energy era is accelerating ahead of schedule. At the urban level, can large-scale utilization of renewable energy in cities promote energy consumption reduction and economic cost saving, improving energy economic efficiency (EEE)? Based on balanced panel data for 260 prefecture-level cities in China from 2010 to 2020, we used data envelope analysis (DEA) window analysis and difference-in-differences and propensity score matching to evaluate the effect of the New Energy Demonstration City Program on urban EEE. We found that the policy promoted the improvement of urban EEE. However, there is specific regional heterogeneity in the policy effects, with this policy having a more significant effect on EEE improvements in the Northeast, cities with high pollution levels, and cities with high-tech innovation levels. These findings have significant policy implications for supporting the country in promoting the development and utilization of new energy sources to improve EEE.