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A Comprehensive Net Energy Analysis and Outlook of Energy System in China

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Abstract

Net energy is the surplus energy after subtracting energy production input, which is regarded as the energy that really promotes social development. At present, a large amount of net energy analysis is concentrated in the preliminary production stage, and there are few deeper studies on energy system. This study mainly uses input–output analysis to estimate energy input (including import input, energy loss and embodied energy), and calculates EROI and Net Energy Supply of energy system in China from 1990 to 2018. The results show that EROI has shown a downward trend in the past. Among all energy sectors, Production and Supply of Electric Power and Heat Power accounts for the highest proportion of energy input, and the proportion of energy loss is gradually increasing. In addition, this study uses the simulated function to establish the relationship between net energy and GDP and makes an outlook of net energy supply and EROI in different scenarios. EROI is likely to decline in the near future, and more attention should be paid to the efficient use of net energy to achieve economic goals.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.71874201/71874202/71934006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum (Beijing), Beijing, 102249, China

    Hongshuo Yan, Lianyong Feng, Jianliang Wang & Yue Ma

  2. Institutes of Science and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Hongshuo Yan

  3. School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China

    Yuanying Chi

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  1. Hongshuo Yan
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  2. Lianyong Feng
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  3. Jianliang Wang
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  4. Yuanying Chi
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  5. Yue Ma
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Correspondence to Lianyong Feng.

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Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 2 and 3.

Table 2 Sector classifications of the Chinese Economic Sectors
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Table 3 Energy input in each link of the energy system (10,000 TCE)
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Yan, H., Feng, L., Wang, J. et al. A Comprehensive Net Energy Analysis and Outlook of Energy System in China. Biophys Econ Sust 6, 10 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41247-021-00091-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41247-021-00091-w

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