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Analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Comparison of simple and complex model results

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  • Zhang, Yan
  • Li, Shengsheng
  • Fath, Brian D.
  • Yang, Zhifeng
  • Yang, Naijin

Abstract

A fundamental difference between simple and complex systems is how the research objects are subdivided to support different study purposes. Based on a comparison between two urban energy system models – one with 5 and the other with 17 sectors – we concluded that the two models were most similar in terms of their description of the overall system structure and most different in terms of their description of specific intra-system relationships. The smaller number of system components and relationships in the 5-sector model facilitated judgments of the system's overall situation, thereby revealing where the key problems were found. In contrast, the 17-sector model provided enough details about the system to assist in the formulation of concrete operational measures to solve specific problems. Our results indicate that the division of a model into sectors should depend on the explicit problem to be solved and the context for that problem; different goals will require different numbers of system components. The results also demonstrate how simple and complex models can be used in tandem to examine a system from different perspectives.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhang, Yan & Li, Shengsheng & Fath, Brian D. & Yang, Zhifeng & Yang, Naijin, 2011. "Analysis of an urban energy metabolic system: Comparison of simple and complex model results," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 223(1), pages 14-19.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:223:y:2011:i:1:p:14-19
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2011.08.005
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fath, Brian D., 2007. "Network mutualism: Positive community-level relations in ecosystems," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 208(1), pages 56-67.
    2. 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.
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    8. Yang, Siyuan & Fath, Brian & Chen, Bin, 2016. "Ecological network analysis of embodied particulate matter 2.5 – A case study of Beijing," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 882-888.
    9. Chuang Tu & Xianzhong Mu & Yufeng Wu & Yifan Gu & Guangwen Hu, 2022. "Heterogenous impacts of components in urban energy metabolism: evidences from gravity model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 10089-10117, August.
    10. Zhang, Yan & Liu, Hong & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Synergism analysis of an urban metabolic system: Model development and a case study for Beijing, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 272(C), pages 188-197.
    11. 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.
    12. Li, Yanxian & Wang, Xinjing & Tian, Xin & Zhang, Yan, 2018. "Understanding the mechanism of urban material metabolism with ecological network analysis: An experimental study of Wuxi, China," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 367(C), pages 58-67.
    13. Zhai, Mengyu & Huang, Guohe & Liu, Lirong & Zheng, Boyue & Guan, Yuru, 2020. "Inter-regional carbon flows embodied in electricity transmission: network simulation for energy-carbon nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    14. 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.
    15. Zhang, Yan & Zheng, Hongmei & Fath, Brian D., 2014. "Analysis of the energy metabolism of urban socioeconomic sectors and the associated carbon footprints: Model development and a case study for Beijing," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 540-551.
    16. Adél Strydom & Josephine Kaviti Musango & Paul K. Currie, 2019. "Conceptualizing Household Energy Metabolism: A Methodological Contribution," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-19, October.
    17. Xuecheng Wang & Xu Tang & Baosheng Zhang & Benjamin C. McLellan & Yang Lv, 2018. "Provincial Carbon Emissions Reduction Allocation Plan in China Based on Consumption Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-23, April.
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    19. Meng, Fanxin & Liu, Gengyuan & Liang, Sai & Su, Meirong & Yang, Zhifeng, 2019. "Critical review of the energy-water-carbon nexus in cities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 1017-1032.

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