China’s significant carbon emissions have attracted global attention, and the country has committed to reaching a peak in carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. It is crucial to achieve this goal by effectively controlling the combustion of primary fuels and developing alternative energy technologies. The existing literature has studied the effects of primary energy consumption on CO₂ emissions, alternative energy technology on CO₂ emissions, and energy patents on CO₂ emissions. However, there are few studies on the effects of the relationship between primary energy consumption and alternative energy technology patents. This study analyzes the effects of primary energy consumption and alternative energy patents on CO₂ emission intensity and CO₂ emissions per capita, and their relationship using canonical correlation analysis. Our results are as follows. First, CO₂ emissions from natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas have positive effects (correlation coefficients of 0.102 and 0.275, respectively), while CO₂ emissions from gasoline, fuel oil, diesel, and kerosene have negative effects on CO₂ emission intensity (correlation coefficients of −0.767, −0.420, −0.138, and −0.035, respectively). Second, patents for devices for producing mechanical power from muscle energy have large positive effects on total CO₂ emissions (correlation coefficient of 0.533). Finally, the more the patents utilize waste heat, geothermal energy, hydro energy, and wind energy, the higher the CO₂ emissions from liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, and crude oil, and the lower the CO₂ emissions from diesel, which are conducive to controlling CO₂ emissions. Therefore, energy policies will be more effective, improve the living environment, and promote sustainable development based on the CO₂ emissions level from primary energy consumption and the control degree of CO₂ emissions by alternative energy.

Under the guidance of the carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, China's photovoltaic (PV) industry is flourishing. As a globally strategic emerging industry, the commercialization of patents in the PV sector is a core aspect of technological innovation. However, the industry currently faces multiple challenges in patent commercialization: mismatch between technological maturity and market demand, lack of and quality issues with core technology patents, insufficient awareness and investment in commercialization, and imperfect mechanisms and policies. To address these challenges, the successful experiences of many enterprises in the PV industry provide solutions: keeping pace with technological evolution and market trends, balancing technological complexity and reliability; strengthening patent protection to promote commercialization; closely monitoring changes in the market environment and flexibly adjusting patent commercialization strategies. Based on this, the following countermeasures are proposed: improving patent protection and incentive mechanisms, enhancing policy guidance and support, and promoting deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application. These measures will provide strong support for the sustainable and healthy development of China's PV industry.

This study analyzes the effects of primary energy consumption and alternative energy patents on CO2 emission intensity and CO2 emissions per capita, and their relationship using canonical correlation analysis. Our results are as follows. First, CO2 emissions from natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas have positive effects, while CO2 emissions from gasoline, fuel oil, diesel, and kerosene have negative effects on CO2 emission intensity. Second, patents for devices for producing mechanical power from muscle energy have large positive effects. Finally, the more the patents use waste heat, geothermal energy, hydro energy, and wind energy, the higher the CO2 emissions from liquefied petroleum gas, gasoline, and crude oil and the lower the CO2 emissions from diesel, which are conducive to controlling CO2 emissions. Therefore, energy policies will be more effective based on the CO2 “emissions” level from primary energy consumption and the “control” degree of CO2 emissions by alternative energy.