Hybrid input-output analysis of embodied energy security

Area of Science:

• Energy security
• International trade
• Embodied energy analysis

Background:

• National energy security relies on stable international trade of primary, secondary, and embodied energy.
• Embodied energy includes direct and indirect energy components used in production.
• Global trade in indirect embodied energy has not been explicitly examined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a novel hybrid input-output database for global energy flows.
• To compare and contrast energy security metrics of indirect versus direct embodied energy.
• To analyze the global flow of indirect embodied energy within and among 136 economies.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of a hybrid input-output database.
• Analysis of energy flows within and among 136 global economies.
• Comparison of energy security metrics for indirect and direct energy trade.

Main Results:

• 23% of the global embodied energy network involves indirect energy trade linkages between primary energy producers and non-direct trading partners.
• The global economy exhibits a 90% greater dependence on indirect energy imports compared to direct energy imports.
• Countries generally engage with significantly more trading partners for indirect energy than for direct energy.

Conclusions:

• The global trade network for indirect energy reveals critical intermediary country nodes, including the United States, China, and Russia.
• Differences in energy security metrics highlight the importance of understanding indirect energy flows.
• Findings provide insights into global, sectoral, and national energy security over 2000-2015.