The study of rural energy in China is of great value for comprehensively promoting the realization of the strategy of rural revitalization. Through the CiteSpace visual metrology software, this paper conducted a scientific econometric analysis of the CSSCI source journals and the core source journals of Peking University in China's rural energy research from 1992 to 2023, analyzed the research status, hot spots, research themes and development trends of rural energy problems in a visual way, and drew relevant conclusions. The research overview shows that the overall literature volume in rural energy research shows a trend of ‘slow growth-rapid increase-gradual decrease-increase again’. The compound impact factor of the top journals is high, indicating that the research field of rural energy in China has high academic value and influential achievements. Secondly, from the perspective of research hotspots and themes, the research on related energy issues mainly includes four types of themes, namely: the study of the evaluation indicators of rural energy problems, the problem of rural energy poverty in the context of rural revitalization, the influencing factors of rural energy consumption, and the impact of rural energy policies. The development process of research is divided into two stages, the stage of ‘germination and emergence’ and the stage of ‘exploration and development’. Future research can expand the research content and methods from the macro and micro perspectives of individuals and society, or the spatio-temporal dynamic differences between regions, pay attention to the problems of rural energy poverty and clean energy, and provide a scientific basis for policy practice.