Spatial disparity and hierarchical cluster analysis of final energy consumption in China

Abstract

This paper evaluated the spatial patterns and hierarchical clustering of final energy consumption in China from 2014 to 2016. For this purpose, exploratory spatial data analysis, kernel density estimation, and spatial hierarchical clustering were applied. The results presented various spatial characteristics of final energy consumption with different fuel types and consumption sectors. i) Coal and heat consumption showed significant positive spatial autocorrelations, whereas petroleum products exhibited significant negative spatial autocorrelations, and natural gas and electricity without any significant spatial autocorrelations. ii) The industry sector exhibited clusters of hot spots in eastern China and cold spots in southwestern China, which was obviously different from the north-south difference of coal and heat in the sector of residential energy and of transport, storage and post. iii) Residential coal consumption in rural areas exhibited the most significant disparity. In addition, northeastern, northern and eastern parts of China were identified as three spatial clusters of final energy consumption. Further, it indicated to improve the residential coal utilization level in key coal-producing regions such as Shanxi and Guizhou Provinces.