Exploring the Nexus between Foreign Direct Investment and Energy Consumption: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends

As global economies transition towards sustainable development, understanding the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and energy consumption has become increasingly critical. This relationship is complex, as FDI can simultaneously drive energy demand through industrial expansion while facilitating energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption via technology transfer. Despite the growing body of literature, existing studies remain fragmented across disciplines and regions, limiting a comprehensive understanding of the field. This study conducts a bibliometric analysis of 592 peer reviewed articles indexed in the Scopus database to systematically map the intellectual structure and evolution of research on the FDI-energy consumption nexus. The analysis employs Microsoft Excel, Harzing's Publish or Perish, Biblioshiny, and VOS viewer to examines publication trends, key contributors, citation impact, and thematic development. The findings reveal a significant acceleration in research output after 2013, reflecting heightened global attention to sustainability and energy transition. The field is highly multidisciplinary, with dominant contributions from environmental science, energy, and economics. China emerges as the leading contributor, supported by strong international collaboration networks. Importantly, the study identifies core thematic clusters related to economic growth, environmental sustainability, and technological innovation, highlighting both the maturity and fragmentation of the field. By providing a structured synthesis, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the research landscape and offers strategic directions for future research and policy development.