An integrated assessment and prediction approach of water-energy nexus at the provincial scale: A case study of Inner Mongolia, China

The coordinated development of the regional water-energy nexus is important for the rational utilization of resources. This study proposed an integrated assessment and prediction approach of the water-energy nexus at the provincial scale, focusing on Inner Mongolia, China as a case study. A comprehensive and objective waterenergy nexus evaluation index system was constructed. The coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, which measures the coordination between water and energy, and the grey model (GM(1,1)), which is used to predict the trends of the water-energy nexus, were used to explore coordination now and in the future. The results showed that the coupling degree (CD) of the water-energy nexus in Inner Mongolia had remained high at above 0.9 from 2007 to 2019, which was a high-level coupling. The CCD of the water-energy nexus showed a steady increasing trend from 0.57 to 0.76 and will continue to increase in the coming years. This study recommends continuously increasing monitoring of water and energy and increased focus on the coordinated development of water and energy. The results of this study can act as a reference for the coordinated development of the provincial waterenergy systems and can guide research approaches for studying the water-energy nexus.