Linkages and flow paths of energy consumption: Evidence from China’s sectors

Abstract

This study proposed an energy consumption input–output (ECIO) model, which contributed to identifying the roles in energy consumption of all sectors of a certain country or region. Taking all Chinese sectors as an example, this study measured and analyzed the energy consumption flows in all Chinese sectors over 2002–2018 by combining the ECIO model and the modified hypothetical extraction method. The results show that the construction sector was the largest energy receiver in the economic system. Its dependence on other sectors was the strongest and maintained a remarkable growing trend year by year. Specifically, the amounts of energy flow from the other seven sectors to the construction sector in 2002 were 1,128, 2,844, 17,705, 2,556, 524, 2,335, and 579 × 104 tce (1 tce = 29.3 GJ), respectively. They increased to higher amounts of 1,860, 9,061, 74,557, 9,234, 2,865, 10,519, and 3,784 × 104 tce in 2018, respectively. The manufacturing sector as the largest energy supplier was the most dependent on itself, and played the most significant role in China’s economic system. More precisely, the amounts of energy flow from the manufacturing sector to the other six sectors in 2002 were 3,347, 382, 17,705, 3,569, 1,517, and 11,467 × 104 tce respectively. They increased to 3, 434, 1,339, 9,234, 5,885, 3,633, and 38,727 × 104 tce in 2018, respectively. The mining sector has the most paths of energy export for the production and development of other sectors.

Keywords

• Energy consumption
• Input–output
• Energy flow
• Modified hypothetical extraction method