The　Yellow　River　Basin　(YRB)　serves　as　a　critical　energy　hub　in　China.　Enhancing　energy　efficiency　in　cities　across　the　YRB　is　pivotal　for　achieving　high-quality　development　and　meeting　carbon　peaking　and　neutrality　targets.　This　paper　proposes　a　multidimensional　technology　heterogeneity　assessment　framework　to　refine　the　classification　of　production　technologies.　It　leverages　this　framework　to　develop　a　data　envelopment　analysis　model　for　evaluating　green　total　factor　energy　efficiency　(GTFEE)　in　78　cities　within　the　YRB　from　2006　to　2022.　The　key　findings　are　as　follows:　(1)　Grouping　outcomes　from　the　multidimensional　heterogeneity　framework　significantly　differ　from　existing　literature.　(2)　GTFEE　shows　notable　spatiotemporal　variations　within　the　YRB,　with　a　substantial　overall　increase　since　2011.　However,　cities　in　the　central　YRB　exhibit　lower　GTFEE　performance.　(3)　Energy　inefficiency　in　groups　1,　2,　and　3　is　attributed　to　developmental　inefficiency,　management　inefficiency,　and　practical　inefficiency,　respectively.　(4)　Evaluation　of　energy-saving　potential　reveals　an　average　annual　potential　of　around　8　million　tce　per　city　during　2006–2022.　The　study　concludes　with　strategies　for　enhancing　GTFEE　based　on　dynamic　GTFEE　decomposition　outcomes,　supporting　policy　design　for　achieving　dual-carbon　goals　through　improved　energy　efficiency　in　the　YRB　region.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd