IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v168y2016icp110-121.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Ecological network analysis of the virtual water network within China’s electric power system during 2007–2012

Author

Listed:
  • Guo, Ruipeng
  • Zhu, Xiaojie
  • Chen, Bin
  • Yue, Yunli

Abstract

Substantial virtual water concurrent electricity is transferred among six grids in China’s electric power system. An in-depth understanding of this virtual water is essential considering the increasingly severe water deficiency in China. Using ecological network analysis (ENA), we investigate the virtual water network within China’s electric power system (VWNCEPS) during 2007–2012, including (1) tracking the virtual water flows from the power generators to the power consumers and analyzing the tendency of the track results, (2) identifying the important grids that largely influence both the magnitude and diversity of the VWNCEPS, and (3) evaluating the overall performance of the VWNCEPS. Additionally, a new indicator is proposed that incorporates the concept of the water stress index (WSI) to measure the impact of the VWNCEPS on national water stress mitigation. The results show that during 2007–2012, the northern and central grids were always the most important input-oriented and output-oriented grids, respectively. Furthermore, the input-oriented impacts of the six grids are similar, while the output-oriented impacts exhibit substantial variations among the different grids. Regarding the overall performance, the VWNCEPS exhibits a high level of system efficiency, whereas its flexibility is relatively low. Moreover, the VWNCEPS has a rapidly increasing positive effect on national water stress mitigation in China during 2007–2012, and the virtual water connection between the central grid and the eastern grid is found to be the main contributor to this positive effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Guo, Ruipeng & Zhu, Xiaojie & Chen, Bin & Yue, Yunli, 2016. "Ecological network analysis of the virtual water network within China’s electric power system during 2007–2012," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 110-121.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:168:y:2016:i:c:p:110-121
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.01.063
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261916300435
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.01.063?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kharrazi, Ali & Rovenskaya, Elena & Fath, Brian D. & Yarime, Masaru & Kraines, Steven, 2013. "Quantifying the sustainability of economic resource networks: An ecological information-based approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 177-186.
    2. Zhao, X. & Chen, B. & Yang, Z.F., 2009. "National water footprint in an input–output framework—A case study of China 2002," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(2), pages 245-253.
    3. Zhu, Fahua & Zheng, Youfei & Guo, Xulin & Wang, Sheng, 2005. "Environmental impacts and benefits of regional power grid interconnections for China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(14), pages 1797-1805, September.
    4. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Fath, Brian D. & Li, Shengsheng, 2010. "Ecological network analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 221(16), pages 1865-1879.
    5. Sayigh, Ali, 1999. "Renewable energy -- the way forward," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(1-4), pages 15-30, September.
    6. Guan, Dabo & Hubacek, Klaus, 2007. "Assessment of regional trade and virtual water flows in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 159-170, February.
    7. Chen, G. & Chen, B. & Zhou, H. & Dai, P., 2013. "Life cycle carbon emission flow analysis for electricity supply system: A case study of China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1276-1284.
    8. Fath, Brian D. & Scharler, Ursula M. & Ulanowicz, Robert E. & Hannon, Bruce, 2007. "Ecological network analysis: network construction," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 208(1), pages 49-55.
    9. Zhang, Chao & Anadon, Laura Diaz, 2014. "A multi-regional input–output analysis of domestic virtual water trade and provincial water footprint in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 159-172.
    10. Liu, Wen & Lund, Henrik & Mathiesen, Brian Vad & Zhang, Xiliang, 2011. "Potential of renewable energy systems in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(2), pages 518-525, February.
    11. Zhu, Xiaojie & Guo, Ruipeng & Chen, Bin & Zhang, Jing & Hayat, Tasawar & Alsaedi, Ahmed, 2015. "Embodiment of virtual water of power generation in the electric power system in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 345-354.
    12. Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Yu, Xiangyi, 2009. "Ecological network and emergy analysis of urban metabolic systems: Model development, and a case study of four Chinese cities," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(11), pages 1431-1442.
    13. Chen, Shaoqing & Chen, Bin, 2015. "Urban energy consumption: Different insights from energy flow analysis, input–output analysis and ecological network analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 99-107.
    14. Fath, Brian D. & Halnes, Geir, 2007. "Cyclic energy pathways in ecological food webs," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 208(1), pages 17-24.
    15. Li, Y. & Chen, B. & Yang, Z.F., 2009. "Ecological network analysis for water use systems—A case study of the Yellow River Basin," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 220(22), pages 3163-3173.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Wu, Ziyang & Wang, Can & Wolfram, Paul & Zhang, Yaxin & Sun, Xin & Hertwich, Edgar, 2019. "Assessing electric vehicle policy with region-specific carbon footprints," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    2. Li, Huanhuan & Chen, Diyi & Zhang, Hao & Wu, Changzhi & Wang, Xiangyu, 2017. "Hamiltonian analysis of a hydro-energy generation system in the transient of sudden load increasing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 244-253.
    3. Borrett, Stuart R. & Sheble, Laura & Moody, James & Anway, Evan C., 2018. "Bibliometric review of ecological network analysis: 2010–2016," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 382(C), pages 63-82.
    4. Ying Yang & Bin Wang & Yuqiang Tian & Peng Chen, 2020. "Fractional-Order Finite-Time, Fault-Tolerant Control of Nonlinear Hydraulic-Turbine-Governing Systems with an Actuator Fault," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-20, July.
    5. Ren, Bo & Li, Huajiao & Shi, Jianglan & Ma, Ning & Qi, Yajie, 2022. "Detecting the control and dependence relationships within the global embodied energy trade network," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    6. Fang, Delin & Chen, Bin, 2018. "Linkage analysis for water-carbon nexus in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 682-695.
    7. Zhang, Yiyi & Wang, Jiaqi & Zhang, Linmei & Liu, Jiefeng & Zheng, Hanbo & Fang, Jiake & Hou, Shengren & Chen, Shaoqing, 2020. "Optimization of China’s electric power sector targeting water stress and carbon emissions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    8. Liu, Bin & Gao, Qun & Liang, Lingfeng & Sun, Jide & Liu, Chunlu & Xu, Youquan, 2021. "Ecological relationships of global construction industries in sustainable economic and energy development," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    9. Fang, Delin & Chen, Bin, 2017. "Linkage analysis for the water–energy nexus of city," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 770-779.
    10. Liu, Yitong & Chen, Bin & Wei, Wendong & Shao, Ling & Li, Zhi & Jiang, Weizhong & Chen, Guoqian, 2020. "Global water use associated with energy supply, demand and international trade of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    11. Zhang, Chao & Zhong, Lijin & Liang, Sai & Sanders, Kelly T. & Wang, Jiao & Xu, Ming, 2017. "Virtual scarce water embodied in inter-provincial electricity transmission in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 438-448.
    12. Hang Lei & Xin Zhang & Xinyi Han, 2023. "Exploring Virtual Water Network Dynamics of China’s Electricity Trade: Insights into the Energy–Water Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-21, November.
    13. Zhang, Yiyi & Hou, Shengren & Chen, Shaoqing & Long, Huihui & Liu, Jiefeng & Wang, Jiaqi, 2021. "Tracking flows and network dynamics of virtual water in electricity transmission across China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    14. Liu, Lirong & Huang, Guohe & Baetz, Brian & Huang, Charley Z. & Zhang, Kaiqiang, 2019. "Integrated GHG emissions and emission relationships analysis through a disaggregated ecologically-extended input-output model; A case study for Saskatchewan, Canada," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 97-109.
    15. Zhang, Bo & Qu, Xue & Meng, Jing & Sun, Xudong, 2017. "Identifying primary energy requirements in structural path analysis: A case study of China 2012," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 425-435.
    16. Zhang, Yiyi & Fang, Jiake & Wang, Saige & Yao, Huilu, 2020. "Energy-water nexus in electricity trade network: A case study of interprovincial electricity trade in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    17. Liao, Xiawei & Zhao, Xu & Hall, Jim W. & Guan, Dabo, 2018. "Categorising virtual water transfers through China’s electric power sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 252-260.
    18. Wang, Like & Fan, Yee Van & Jiang, Peng & Varbanov, Petar Sabev & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír, 2021. "Virtual water and CO2 emission footprints embodied in power trade: EU-27," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    19. Cai, Beiming & Jiang, Ling & Liu, Yu & Wang, Feng & Zhang, Wei & Yan, Xu & Ge, Zhenzi, 2023. "Regional trends and socioeconomic drivers of energy-related water use in China from 2007 to 2017," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Borrett, Stuart R. & Sheble, Laura & Moody, James & Anway, Evan C., 2018. "Bibliometric review of ecological network analysis: 2010–2016," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 382(C), pages 63-82.
    2. Zhu, Xiaojie & Guo, Ruipeng & Chen, Bin & Zhang, Jing & Hayat, Tasawar & Alsaedi, Ahmed, 2015. "Embodiment of virtual water of power generation in the electric power system in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 345-354.
    3. Guangyao Deng & Liujuan Wang & Yanan Song, 2015. "Effect of Variation of Water-Use Efficiency on Structure of Virtual Water Trade - Analysis Based on Input–Output Model," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 29(8), pages 2947-2965, June.
    4. Chen, G.Q. & Chen, Z.M., 2011. "Greenhouse gas emissions and natural resources use by the world economy: Ecological input–output modeling," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(14), pages 2362-2376.
    5. Xueting Zhao, 2014. "China's Inter-regional Trade of Virtual Water: a Multi-regional Input-output Modeling," Working Papers Working Paper 2014-04, Regional Research Institute, West Virginia University.
    6. Jiali Huang & Robert E Ulanowicz, 2014. "Ecological Network Analysis for Economic Systems: Growth and Development and Implications for Sustainable Development," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(6), pages 1-8, June.
    7. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2015. "Ecological network analysis of an industrial symbiosis system: A case study of the Shandong Lubei eco-industrial park," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 306(C), pages 174-184.
    8. Borrett, Stuart R. & Moody, James & Edelmann, Achim, 2014. "The rise of Network Ecology: Maps of the topic diversity and scientific collaboration," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 293(C), pages 111-127.
    9. Duan, Cuncun & Chen, Bin, 2017. "Energy–water nexus of international energy trade of China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 725-734.
    10. Lu, Weiwei & Su, Meirong & Zhang, Yan & Yang, Zhifeng & Chen, Bin & Liu, Gengyuan, 2014. "Assessment of energy security in China based on ecological network analysis: A perspective from the security of crude oil supply," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 406-413.
    11. Chen, Shaoqing & Zhu, Feiyao & Long, Huihui & Yang, Jin, 2019. "Energy footprint controlled by urban demands: How much does supply chain complexity contribute?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 561-572.
    12. Sun, J.X. & Yin, Y.L. & Sun, S.K. & Wang, Y.B. & Yu, X. & Yan, K., 2021. "Review on research status of virtual water: The perspective of accounting methods, impact assessment and limitations," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    13. An, Qier & An, Haizhong & Wang, Lang & Gao, Xiangyun & Lv, Na, 2015. "Analysis of embodied exergy flow between Chinese industries based on network theory," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 318(C), pages 26-35.
    14. Zhang, Yan & Lu, Hanjing & Fath, Brian D. & Zheng, Hongmei, 2016. "Modelling urban nitrogen metabolic processes based on ecological network analysis: A case of study in Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 337(C), pages 29-38.
    15. Min, Yong & Jin, Xiaogang & Chang, Jie & Peng, Changhui & Gu, Baojing & Ge, Ying & Zhong, Yang, 2011. "Weak indirect effects inherent to nitrogen biogeochemical cycling within anthropogenic ecosystems: A network environ analysis," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 222(17), pages 3277-3284.
    16. A. Hassan & M. Y. Saari & T. H. Tengku Ismail, 2017. "Virtual water trade in industrial products: evidence from Malaysia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 877-894, June.
    17. Lu, Weiwei & Su, Meirong & Fath, Brian D. & Zhang, Mingqi & Hao, Yan, 2016. "A systematic method of evaluation of the Chinese natural gas supply security," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 858-867.
    18. Zhang, Yan & Li, Yanxian & Zheng, Hongmei, 2017. "Ecological network analysis of energy metabolism in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) urban agglomeration," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 351(C), pages 51-62.
    19. Ehsan Qasemipour & Farhad Tarahomi & Markus Pahlow & Seyed Saeed Malek Sadati & Ali Abbasi, 2020. "Assessment of Virtual Water Flows in Iran Using a Multi-Regional Input-Output Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
    20. Ehsan Qasemipour & Ali Abbasi & Farhad Tarahomi, 2020. "Water-Saving Scenarios Based on Input–Output Analysis and Virtual Water Concept: A Case in Iran," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-16, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:168:y:2016:i:c:p:110-121. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.