IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v360y2024ics0306261924002320.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Elevating urban sustainability: An intelligent framework for optimizing water-energy-food nexus synergies in metabolic landscapes

Author

Listed:
  • Zhou, Yanlai
  • Chang, Fi-John
  • Chang, Li-Chiu
  • Herricks, Edwin

Abstract

As global urbanization accelerates, harmonizing water, energy, and food (WEF) resources within urban contexts is pivotal for sustainable development. This study introduces the Intelligent Urban Metabolism Framework (IUMF) for synergizing WEF dynamics, with a focus on socio-technological linkages and environmental concerns arising from climate change. Through a pioneering fusion of system dynamics simulation, machine learning surrogate, metaheuristic optimization, and multi-criteria decision making techniques, IUMF offers a transformative approach to resource management under climate uncertainty. Leveraging comprehensive data sourced from Taipei, Taiwan, this study demonstrates noteworthy enhancements in WEF nexus synergies, including a 9% boost in water supply, an 8% rise in energy benefits, and a significant 13.8% increase in food production. The cases corresponding to the best solutions under the scenario depicting a wet year and high solar radiation intensity would attain the largest benefits: 873 million m3 of water supply (water sector), 90.3 million USD of power benefits (energy sector), and 79 million kg of food production (food sector). These advancements are achieved while reducing computational runtime from 20 h to 30 min. By fostering a user-friendly interface and embracing an intelligent framework, IUMF catalyzes urban sustainability efforts. Our study highlights the potential of intelligent frameworks in addressing complex urban challenges and guiding the evolution of resource-efficient systems and offers a blueprint for a more resilient and sustainable urban future.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhou, Yanlai & Chang, Fi-John & Chang, Li-Chiu & Herricks, Edwin, 2024. "Elevating urban sustainability: An intelligent framework for optimizing water-energy-food nexus synergies in metabolic landscapes," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 360(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:360:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924002320
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122849
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261924002320
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122849?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. White, David J. & Hubacek, Klaus & Feng, Kuishuang & Sun, Laixiang & Meng, Bo, 2018. "The Water-Energy-Food Nexus in East Asia: A tele-connected value chain analysis using inter-regional input-output analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 550-567.
    2. Lazaro, Lira Luz Benites & Giatti, Leandro Luiz & Bermann, Celio & Giarolla, Angelica & Ometto, Jean, 2021. "Policy and governance dynamics in the water-energy-food-land nexus of biofuels: Proposing a qualitative analysis model," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Kumar, Abhishek & Sah, Bikash & Singh, Arvind R. & Deng, Yan & He, Xiangning & Kumar, Praveen & Bansal, R.C., 2017. "A review of multi criteria decision making (MCDM) towards sustainable renewable energy development," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 596-609.
    4. Oviroh, Peter Ozaveshe & Austin-Breneman, Jesse & Chien, Cheng-Chun & Chakravarthula, Praneet Nallan & Harikumar, Vaishnavi & Shiva, Pranjal & Kimbowa, Alvin Bagetuuma & Luntz, Jonathan & Miyingo, Emm, 2023. "Micro Water-Energy-Food (MicroWEF) Nexus: A system design optimization framework for Integrated Natural Resource Conservation and Development (INRCD) projects at community scale," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    5. Elham Soleimanian & Abbas Afshar & Amir Molajou & Mahdi Ghasemi, 2023. "Development of a Comprehensive Water Simulation Model for Water, Food, and Energy Nexus Analysis in Basin Scale," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 37(12), pages 4589-4621, September.
    6. Cathrin Zengerling, 2019. "Governing the City of Flows: How Urban Metabolism Approaches May Strengthen Accountability in Strategic Planning," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(1), pages 187-199.
    7. Hasanzadeh Saray, Marzieh & Baubekova, Aziza & Gohari, Alireza & Eslamian, Seyed Saeid & Klove, Bjorn & Torabi Haghighi, Ali, 2022. "Optimization of Water-Energy-Food Nexus considering CO2 emissions from cropland: A case study in northwest Iran," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    8. Ming-Che Hu & Chihhao Fan & Tailin Huang & Chi-Fang Wang & Yu-Hui Chen, 2018. "Urban Metabolic Analysis of a Food-Water-Energy System for Sustainable Resources Management," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Zhang, Tong & Tan, Qian & Yu, Xiaoning & Zhang, Shan, 2020. "Synergy assessment and optimization for water-energy-food nexus: Modeling and application," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    10. Zhu, Chuanqi & Tian, Wei & Yin, Baoquan & Li, Zhanyong & Shi, Jiaxin, 2020. "Uncertainty calibration of building energy models by combining approximate Bayesian computation and machine learning algorithms," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 268(C).
    11. Ahmad, Shakeel & Jia, Haifeng & Chen, Zhengxia & Li, Qian & Xu, Changqing, 2020. "Water-energy nexus and energy efficiency: A systematic analysis of urban water systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    12. Zhou, Yanlai & Guo, Shenglian & Chang, Fi-John & Liu, Pan & Chen, Alexander B., 2018. "Methodology that improves water utilization and hydropower generation without increasing flood risk in mega cascade reservoirs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 785-796.
    13. Angela Huang & Fi-John Chang, 2021. "Prospects for Rooftop Farming System Dynamics: An Action to Stimulate Water-Energy-Food Nexus Synergies toward Green Cities of Tomorrow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    14. Zhou, Yanlai & Chang, Fi-John & Chang, Li-Chiu & Lee, Wei-De & Huang, Angela & Xu, Chong-Yu & Guo, Shenglian, 2020. "An advanced complementary scheme of floating photovoltaic and hydropower generation flourishing water-food-energy nexus synergies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    15. Zhou, Yanlai & Chang, Li-Chiu & Uen, Tin-Shuan & Guo, Shenglian & Xu, Chong-Yu & Chang, Fi-John, 2019. "Prospect for small-hydropower installation settled upon optimal water allocation: An action to stimulate synergies of water-food-energy nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 668-682.
    16. De Stercke, Simon & Mijic, Ana & Buytaert, Wouter & Chaturvedi, Vaibhav, 2018. "Modelling the dynamic interactions between London’s water and energy systems from an end-use perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 615-626.
    17. Abbas Afshar & Elham Soleimanian & Hossein Akbari Variani & Masoud Vahabzadeh & Amir Molajou, 2022. "The conceptual framework to determine interrelations and interactions for holistic Water, Energy, and Food Nexus," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 10119-10140, August.
    18. Li, Bei & Miao, Hongzhi & Li, Jiangchen, 2021. "Multiple hydrogen-based hybrid storage systems operation for microgrids: A combined TOPSIS and model predictive control methodology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 283(C).
    19. Caiado Couto, Lilia & Campos, Luiza C. & da Fonseca-Zang, Warde & Zang, Joachim & Bleischwitz, Raimund, 2021. "Water, waste, energy and food nexus in Brazil: Identifying a resource interlinkage research agenda through a systematic review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    20. Zhao, Ning & You, Fengqi, 2021. "Food-energy-water-waste nexus systems optimization for New York State under the COVID-19 pandemic to alleviate health and environmental concerns," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Wang, Xue-Chao & Jiang, Peng & Yang, Lan & Fan, Yee Van & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Wang, Yutao, 2021. "Extended water-energy nexus contribution to environmentally-related sustainable development goals," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    2. Zhou, Yang & Han, Jingcheng & Zhou, Ya, 2024. "Synergizing carbon trading and water management for urban sustainability: A city-level multi-objective planning framework," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).
    3. Jue Wang & Keyi Ju & Xiaozhuo Wei, 2022. "Where Will ‘Water-Energy-Food’ Research Go Next?—Visualisation Review and Prospect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    4. Zhang, Y.F. & Li, Y.P. & Huang, G.H. & Zhai, X.B. & Ma, Y., 2024. "Improving efficiency and sustainability of water-agriculture-energy nexus in a transboundary river basin under climate change: A double-sided stochastic factional optimization method," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 292(C).
    5. Ana Luiza Fontenelle & Erik Nilsson & Ieda Geriberto Hidalgo & Cintia B. Uvo & Drielli Peyerl, 2022. "Temporal Understanding of the Water–Energy Nexus: A Literature Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.
    6. Radu Petrariu & Marius Constantin & Mihai Dinu & Simona Roxana Pătărlăgeanu & Mădălina Elena Deaconu, 2021. "Water, Energy, Food, Waste Nexus: Between Synergy and Trade-Offs in Romania Based on Entrepreneurship and Economic Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    7. Schlör, Holger & Venghaus, Sandra, 2022. "Measuring resilience in the food-energy-water nexus based on ethical values and trade relations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 323(C).
    8. Angela Huang & Fi-John Chang, 2021. "Prospects for Rooftop Farming System Dynamics: An Action to Stimulate Water-Energy-Food Nexus Synergies toward Green Cities of Tomorrow," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    9. Zhou, Yanlai & Chang, Li-Chiu & Uen, Tin-Shuan & Guo, Shenglian & Xu, Chong-Yu & Chang, Fi-John, 2019. "Prospect for small-hydropower installation settled upon optimal water allocation: An action to stimulate synergies of water-food-energy nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 668-682.
    10. Hao Li & Yuhuan Zhao & Jiang Lin, 2020. "A review of the energy–carbon–water nexus: Concepts, research focuses, mechanisms, and methodologies," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(1), January.
    11. Cássia Juliana Fernandes Torres & Camilla Hellen Peixoto de Lima & Bárbara Suzart de Almeida Goodwin & Terencio Rebello de Aguiar Junior & Andrea Sousa Fontes & Daniel Veras Ribeiro & Rodrigo Saldanha, 2019. "A Literature Review to Propose a Systematic Procedure to Develop “Nexus Thinking” Considering the Water–Energy–Food Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-32, December.
    12. Busola D. Akintayo & Oluwafemi E. Ige & Olubayo M. Babatunde & Oludolapo A. Olanrewaju, 2023. "Evaluation and Prioritization of Power-Generating Systems Using a Life Cycle Assessment and a Multicriteria Decision-Making Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-18, September.
    13. Wu, Zhangsheng & Li, Yue & Wang, Rong & Xu, Xu & Ren, Dongyang & Huang, Quanzhong & Xiong, Yunwu & Huang, Guanhua, 2023. "Evaluation of irrigation water saving and salinity control practices of maize and sunflower in the upper Yellow River basin with an agro-hydrological model based method," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    14. Choi, Seok Min & Park, Chang-Dae & Cho, Sung-Hoon & Lim, Byung-Ju, 2022. "Effects of wind loads on the solar panel array of a floating photovoltaic system – Experimental study and economic analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    15. 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.
    16. Vlachokostas, Ch. & Michailidou, A.V. & Achillas, Ch., 2021. "Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis towards promoting Waste-to-Energy Management Strategies: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    17. Zhang, Tianyu & Dong, Peiwu & Zeng, Yongchao & Ju, Yanbing, 2022. "Analyzing the diffusion of competitive smart wearable devices: An agent-based multi-dimensional relative agreement model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 90-105.
    18. Tan, R.R. & Aviso, K.B. & Ng, D.K.S., 2019. "Optimization models for financing innovations in green energy technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 1-1.
    19. Behroozeh, Samira & Hayati, Dariush & Karami, Ezatollah, 2022. "Determining and validating criteria to measure energy consumption sustainability in agricultural greenhouses," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    20. Ma, Chao & Liu, Zhao, 2022. "Water-surface photovoltaics: Performance, utilization, and interactions with water eco-environment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

    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:360:y:2024:i:c:s0306261924002320. 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.