Regional energy-water nexus based on structural path betweenness: A case study of Shanxi Province, China

Energy and water are important resources for sustainable development. Due to large amounts of demand in the energy production, water is becoming a critical factor for energy policy making, especially for resource-dependent areas. Direct users from the production-based method and indirect drivers from the consumption-based method are identified in existing studies, but transmission sectors in the intermediate supply chains are usually ignored. To reconcile the relationship between energy and water, we carry on a case study in Shanxi Province and use input-output tables in 2007 and 2012 to measure the betweenness of sectors. Results shows that Mining and Processing of Metal Ores is the key transmission sector measured by betweenness-based method but usually ignored by other existing methods. Moreover, tertiary industry, such as Transportation, Storage and Posts, Hotel and Restaurants, plays an increasing significant role as transmission centers in the upstream supply chains. Efficiency improvement in these sectors may also help reduce water stress in the energy production. To encourage better decisions and avoid unintended results, betweenness-based results should be considered as a complementary part for energy and water policy formulation.