Understanding water-energy-food and ecosystem interactions using the nexus simulation tool NexSym

Abstract

The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus concept highlights the importance of integrative solutions that secure resource supplies and meet demands sustainably. There is a need for translating the nexus concept into clear frameworks and tools that can be applied to decision making. A simulation and analytics framework, and a concomitant Nexus Simulation System (NexSym) is presented here. NexSym advances the state-of-the-art in nexus tools by explicit dynamic modelling of local techno-ecological interactions relevant to WEF operations. The modular tool integrates models for ecosystems, WEF production and consumption components and allows the user to build, simulate and analyse a "flowsheet" of a local system. This enables elucidation of critical interactions and gaining knowledge and understanding that supports innovative solutions by balancing resource supply and demand and increasing synergies between components, while maintaining ecosystems. NexSym allowed assessment of the synergistic design of a local nexus system in a UK eco-town. The design improved local nutrient balance and meets 100% of electricity demand, while achieving higher carbon capture and biomass provisioning, higher water reuse and food production, however with a remarkable impact on land use.

Promoting Rural Electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa: Least-Cost Modelling of Decentralized Energy-Water-Food Systems: Case Study of St. Rupert Mayer, Zimbabwe

“…However, a key desirable feature is the direct modelling and simulation of processes relevant to EWFS in cost-optimizing HRES software in order to properly dimension the integrative decentralized system. Studies approaching the EWF nexus highlight the need for integrative solutions that consider the synergies among the components of EWFS and assess the connections between the three subsystems [15,16]. Existing tools address the interdependencies of these complex systems from project management-based frameworks [17] or techno-ecological methodologies like resource management [16].…”

“…Studies approaching the EWF nexus highlight the need for integrative solutions that consider the synergies among the components of EWFS and assess the connections between the three subsystems [15,16]. Existing tools address the interdependencies of these complex systems from project management-based frameworks [17] or techno-ecological methodologies like resource management [16]. Hence, this research aims to contribute to the current research status-quo by assessing the economic feasibility of EWFS with least-cost modelling.…”

Planning of Food-Energy-Water-Waste (FEW2) nexus for sustainable development

“…A system (or system thinking) approach, as a way of tackling complex issues by thinking of them as an interlinked network of subsystems and elements, would stand a unique position to support decision-making process for infrastructure planning. This is often realised by computational modelling, a prevailing tool to account for the complex interconnection within FEW2 nexus while comprehending the need of being eco-friendly and economically feasible [17,18].…”

A Literature Review to Propose a Systematic Procedure to Develop “Nexus Thinking” Considering the Water–Energy–Food Nexus

“…Additional studies have addressed nexus thinking in the urban context [21] and different methods for comparing the level of tool complexity used in the nexus approach [37]. Finally, methods and tools for evaluating interlinks among nexus elements [25,27,28,[47][48][49][50] to develop a framework of conceptual knowledge for scientific analysis and policy formulation associated with the urban nexus [22] have been proposed.…”