Three-scale input-output analysis for energy and water consumption in urban agglomeration

The rapid development of urban agglomerations in China has brought up serious energy shortage and water scarcity issues. This paper uses three-scale input-output analysis and nexus strength method to investigate the overall energy and water consumption of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) urban agglomeration in 2012. Three scales, i.e., local, domestic and foreign scales, are linked within the traditional input-output analysis and used to establish the energy and water consumption intensities data. The subsequent analyses of energy-water nexus strength index distinguish important nodes with strong linkages of water and energy. The main results show that Jing-Jin-Ji agglomeration is an overall net exporter, but a net domestic exporter and a net foreign importer, from the perspective of the energy and water consumption embodied in trade. The important nodes with higher energy-water nexus strength values are different among three scales, while the sectors of agricultural, food processing, chemical products and transportation are significant nodes in all three scales. The proposed framework may facilitate the future synergetic management of multi-resources in urban agglomeration. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.