The impact of domestic trade on China's regional energy uses: A multi-regional input–output modeling

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 63; pp. 1169 - 1181
• Main Authors: Zhang, Bo, Chen, Z.M., Xia, X.H., Xu, X.Y., Chen, Y.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2013; Elsevier; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Applied sciences; China; China (People's Republic); Demand; domestic trade; Economic data; embodied energy; Embodied energy account; Energy; Energy consumption; Energy economics; Energy policy; energy requirements; Energy resources; Energy utilization; Exact sciences and technology; General, economic and professional studies; Impact analysis; Input-output models; Interregional trade in China; Methodology. Modelling; Mongolia; Multi-regional input–output modeling; Power generation; Salvage; Studies; Trade; China; Asia; China, People's Rep., Hainan; China, People's Rep., Inner Mongolia; China, People's Rep., Beijing; China, People's Rep., Xinjiang; China, People's Rep., Jiangsu; China, People's Rep., Shanghai; Multi-regional input–output modeling; Interregional trade in China; Embodied energy account; Energy consumption; Trade; Energy flow; 2007; Embodied energy; Regional scope; Multi-regional input-output modeling; Input output table; Input output model
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2013.08.062

To systematically reveal how domestic trade impacts on China's regional energy uses, an interprovincial input–output modeling is carried out to address demand-derived energy requirements for the regional economies in 2007 based on the recently available data. Both the energy uses embodied in final demand and interregional trade are investigated from the regional and sectoral insights. Significant net transfers of embodied energy flows are identified from the central and western areas to the eastern area via interregional trade. Shanxi is the largest energy producer and interregional embodied energy deficit receiver, in contrast to Guangdong as the largest energy user and surplus receiver. By considering the impacts of interregional trade, the energy uses of most eastern regions increase remarkably. For instance, Shanghai, Hainan, Zhejiang, Beijing, Jiangsu and Guangdong have their embodied energy requirements 87.49, 19.97, 13.64, 12.60, 6.46 and 6.38 times of their direct energy inputs, respectively. In contrast, the embodied energy uses of some central and western regions such as Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Xinjiang, Shaanxi and Guizhou decrease largely. The results help understand the hidden network linkages of interregional embodied energy flows and provide critical insight to amend China's current end-reduction-oriented energy policies by addressing the problem of regional responsibility transfer.
•Demand-derived energy requirements for China's regional economies are addressed.•Significant interregional transfers of embodied energy flows are identified.•Energy surpluses are obtained by 19 regions and deficits by the other 11 regions.•The eastern regions should take more responsibility for reducing China's energy uses.