Spatiotemporal patterns and determinants of renewable energy innovation: Evidence from a province-level analysis in China

China’s renewable energy innovation is essential for realizing its carbon neutrality targets and the low-carbon transition, but few studies have spatially examined its characteristics and spillover effects. To fill the research gap, this study investigates its distribution and trends from a spatiotemporal dimension and focuses on the spatial effects of the influencing factors to identify those that have a significant impact on renewable energy innovation by using China’s provincial panel data from 2006 to 2019. The results show the following findings. (1) Renewable energy innovation shows distinct spatial differences across China’s provinces such that it is high in the east and south and low in the west and north, which exhibits spatial locking and path-dependence. (2) There is a positive spatial correlation with renewable energy innovation. (3) R&D investment and GDP per capita significantly promote renewable energy innovation, but the former effect is mainly observed in the local area, whereas the latter shows spatial effects. More market-oriented policies should be taken for the improvement of renewable energy innovation and the establishment of regional coordination mechanisms are proposed.