Nexus Systems Research Articles

Multi-actor approach to manage the water-energy-food nexus at territory scale

This study presents an innovative water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) generic multi-actor multi-level framework that simulates dynamic nexus systems and generates optimal resource management schemes and land-use allocation scenarios. The framework combines operational integrated multi-agent based simulations, dynamic agro-hydrological and renewable energy generation units (solar and wind) models and multi-criteria decision-making methods. It has been applied to a case study area of 800 km2 located downstream the Aveyron watershed, in Southwestern France. Local and regional strategic multi-criteria decision-making settings are compared. Under the local decision-making setting land-use allocation decisions are taken at agricultural parcel level whereas under the regional decision-making settings a single land allocation decision is taken for the whole territory. Possible land allocations are either crop rotations allocations, renewable energy generation units allocations or a mix of both. The framework is useful to generate scenarios of spatial allocations of renewable energy production units in an agricultural watershed facing water scarcity.

Strengthening resilience: decentralized decision-making and multi-criteria analysis in the energy-water-food nexus systems

The Energy-Water-Food (EWF) nexus is a complex and multidimensional system, in which the energy, water and food resources are strongly interconnected. EWF nexus systems are seriously threatened by natural hazards (e.g., climate change and extreme weather events) along with other human-driven threats, including rapid population growth, urbanization, terrorism, and geopolitical uncertainty. As such, integrated analysis, as encouraged by the EWF nexus can facilitate the identification of essential connections and potential conflicts that may arise in the planning and operation of resource systems. Moreover, in order to consider immediate shocks and long-term pressures, it is imperative to prioritize the strengthening of EWF system resilience by incorporating robust and efficient resource management strategies, which consider various dimensions of sustainability and security such as technical, environmental, economic, and societal aspects. Decentralization is one concept that has the potential of improving the resilience of nexus systems faced to the multiple risks governing them through reducing single points of failure and enabling swifter responses to sudden shocks and continuous volatilities. However, in order to achieve a holistic system resilience through decentralization, the assessment of the different risks impacting each nexus sector is fundamental, yet it can be particularly challenging. Therefore, the objective of this study is to review the currently available resilience assessment methods for the EWF nexus system. The systematic literature review will connect various assessment methods used within decentralization studies that are applied to improve the resilience performance of the EWF nexus system. A total of 84 journal papers were evaluated. The review demonstrates that the deployment of multi-criteria decision-making framework based on composite indicators can be effective in addressing risks and uncertainties within EWF systems. Furthermore, findings of this review illustrate complementary connections between decentralization and resilience concepts, which when integrated with the EWF nexus approach, can be effectively utilized for integrated sustainable resource management.

A knowledge interchange broker composition modeling framework for simulating water, energy, and water-energy nexus systems

Understanding the dynamics of complex systems requires developing and combining different kinds of models that can be simulated separately and together. Modeling the interactions as separate models contributes to building flexible hybrid simulation frameworks. In this research, a Discrete Event System Specification–based Interaction Model (DEVS-IM) framework is developed based on the Knowledge Interchange Broker (KIB) approach. This KIB-based RESTful modeling composition framework is shown to enable systematic modeling and simulation of interactions between disparate simulatable models. It supports storing IMs developed for componentized Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) and Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) tools. It generates the skeleton of DEVS-IMs stored in database for DEVS-Suite simulator. An exemplar model consisting of water, energy, and IMs demonstrates this methodology for developing nexus models of water–energy systems.

Enhancement effects of Fe-doped Ni3S2 on efficient electrochemical urea oxidation and mechanism insights

The urea oxidation reaction (UOR) can reduce the energy consumption of electrolytic for urea-assisted water splitting to produce hydrogen. Fe(EDTA)-Ni3S2 @NF electrode is prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal method. The addition of EDTA promotes more Fe atoms doping into Ni3S2. Fe doping regulated the morphology and electronic structure of Ni3S2, and the Fe(EDTA)-Ni3S2 @NF shows excellent UOR activity. The required UOR potentials on Fe(EDTA)-Ni3S2 @NF at 50 mA cm−2 is 1.363 V (vs. RHE). In addition, the kinetics experiments and DFT calculations of the electrode toward UOR are carried out. It is found that UOR reactions under high current density (760 mA cm−2) would be limited. The liquid product of NO2- were detected by ion chromatography for UOR on Fe(EDTA)-Ni3S2 @NF. The faradaic efficiency for the electrooxidation of CO2NH4 to NO2- is 38 %. These findings provide complementary insights for the UOR in water-energy nexus systems.

Water as a key enabler of nexus systems (water-energy-food)

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Balancing the water-energy dilemma in nexus system planning with bi-level and multi-uncertainty

The complicated interrelationship between water and energy makes the water-energy dilemma a complex challenge to be tackled, especially considering the tradeoffs among decision-makers at different hierarchical levels and multiple uncertainties derived from climate change, socio-economic development, technical improvement and decision-making preferences. Thus, a water-energy nexus planning framework would be established in this paper to assist optimal decision-making with bi-level programming and multi-uncertainty. By integrating the regional climate model, multiple linear regression, and bi-level interval flexible programming, an integrated prediction optimization model would be developed as the core of the water-energy nexus planning framework. Then it is applied to planning Zhengzhou City over fifteen years. Multiple scenarios based on electricity demand-supply and carbon dioxide emission satisfaction degrees are analyzed leading to the results of (1) compared to the conventional single-level optimization method, the developed model can achieve the hierarchical goals of water saving and economic suitability; (2) renewable energy will be largely developed and its ratio to electricity generation will reach [26.30, 27.51] % under the limited water availability. Overall, the proposed water-energy nexus planning framework can achieve a balanced water-energy dilemma considering bi-level decision-making preferences and multi-uncertainties, which can be applied to planning water-energy nexus systems at a similar scale.

Tech-economic modeling and analysis of agricultural photovoltaic-water systems for irrigation in arid areas

Affected by the shortage of water resources and land degradation, the sustainable development of agriculture in more and more arid areas will face serious obstacles. The combinations of agricultural photovoltaic, water transportation and irrigation systems are considered as a potential choice to solve above problem. This study aims to investigate the competitiveness of various system configurations to transport water from water resource to agricultural irrigation systems driven by the output power of agricultural photovoltaic. Including the levelized cost of electricity and net present value, a comprehensive techno-economic assessment model is proposed to analyze the agricultural photovoltaic and irrigation systems in arid areas for six scenarios. The applicability of the proposed model in managing regional water and renewable energy nexus systems was tested through application to a real-world case study in the Gansu province, China. Assuming that the baseline transportation distance is 50 km, the results show that exporting water to farmland through electric water trucks shows the best economic performance with the net present value of 13.71 MU$, and every 10 km increase in the transportation distance can decrease the net present value by 1.32 MU$. An important finding is that when the transportation distance was greater than 100 km, pipeline transportation mode was more economical than electric water truck transportation mode. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to analyze the electricity and water prices, farmland size, photovoltaic efficiency on the economic performance of these systems. Results show that only when the electricity price was greater than 0.08 $/kWh, pipeline transport mode yielded positive benefits, and every 0.1$/m3 increase in the water price can increase the net present value by 0.2 MU$.

Water - food and energy nexus systems: analysis integrated policy making tool

This research discusses and analyses cutting-edge applications for water-energy-food nexus system analysis. It is axiomatic that substantial data should be acquired for a comprehensive model. The WEF nexus simulator may therefore be built to any extent by using simulated data future integral field spectroscopic (IFs and THENs) for WEF nexus interaction. The required data was then organized, and interactions (IFs and THENs) between the three subsystems were investigated. These IFs and THENs aid in our understanding of and ability to address the intricacy of the WEF. Given that the present study’s objective is to review various solutions for WEF Nexus We can now use these classifications to simplify the WEF nexus idea. In other words, the relationship between the three subsystems is demonstrated by the IFs and THENs variables. It would make sense to remove one of the following THEN variables from one subsystem if one of the IF variables in another subsystem remained. Because earlier Nexus initiatives did not provide information on how to initiate and discover interactions, it will be simple to determine interactions. This study demonstrates how a thorough nexus simulation model can access and communicate a wide range of data. The nexus model's interrelationships and interactions with other subsystems can be easily recovered thanks to this classification approach, and none of them will be missed because of ignorance of the nexus system. These IFs and THENs variables are also seen to be an excellent way to simplify the implementation of the Nexus system. The overall score for each project was then calculated by adding the weighted scores, which provided a methodical and objective way to rank the 29 irrigation and hydroelectric dam projects. This study is the first study in Iraq about water-energy and food nexus and helping to streamline decision-making at the nexus due to the size of the several sectors in the Iraqi human society Following input from NWDS stakeholders, three new factors to take into account when deciding which irrigation project options to pursue were identified: a) Fighting poverty; b) Building irrigation projects close to Iraq's borders to ensure border security. 3) Rural Population Decline or Poverty Exodus. It's important to note that the nation places the highest priority on these three factors (Key Priorities National). Irrigation projects may now be planned in a deliberate manner that takes into account the observations of the relevant authorities thanks to the adoption of these aims together with the strategic assessment criteria. It takes scientific input to create "resource indexes".

Comprehensive reliability evaluation of water-energy nexus systems

• New reliability model is developed for integrated Water-Energy Nexus (WEN). • An augmented probabilistic algorithm is devised to evaluate the reliability of WEN. • Renewable energy sources and energy storage are considered in reliability analysis. • Both mechanical failures and hydraulic analysis of the water system are considered. • Three reliability indices for water system considering power reliability are devised. • Power supply reliability is an unneglectable factor as three overall reliability indices of water system increase by 19.7%, 32.6%, and 26.9% respectively when it is considered. Water and power systems are two national critical infrastructures which support our daily life and economic growth. Both are highly interconnected and complex networks, which consist of various system elements. The core functions of water and power distribution systems are to deliver satisfactory water and electric services to consumers by satisfying the demands at all load points. Besides the factors in the water distribution system itself, power supply may affect the performance of the water distribution system. Therefore, the two systems are in fact physically connected and coupled. The purpose of this study is to develop an appropriate model and an efficient evaluation algorithm to quantify the reliability of the water distribution and power supply system as an integrated Water-Energy Nexus (WEN). This paper proposes a probabilistic reliability evaluation method for the micro-WEN model based on the sequential Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) procedure. In the proposed evaluation procedure, both mechanical failures and hydraulic analysis are taken into consideration. Case studies are performed based on a representative water-energy nexus system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Appraising the Water‐Energy‐Food Nexus From a Sustainable Development Perspective: A Maturing Paradigm?

AbstractThe water‐energy‐food (WEF) nexus is a prominent approach for addressing today's sustainable development challenges. In our critical appraisal of the WEF, covering different approaches, drivers, enablers, and applications, we emphasize the situation across the Global South (Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean). Here, WEF research covers at least 23 focal domains. We find that the nexus is still a maturing paradigm primarily rooted in a physical and natural sciences framing, which is itself embedded in a neoliberal securities narrative. While providing insights and tools to address the systemic interdependencies between resource sectors whose exploitation, degradation, and sub‐optimal management contribute to (un)sustainable development, there is still insufficient engagement with social, political, and economic dimensions. Progress related to climate, urbanization, and resource consumption is encouraging, but while governance and finance are central enablers of current and future nexus systems, gaps remain in relation to implementation and operationalization. Harnessing the nexus for sustainable development across the Global South means recognizing that it is more than a biophysical system, but also a multi‐scale complex of people, institutions, and infrastructure, affected by history and context. Addressing this complexity requires alternative and possibly challenging perspectives to counter dominant narratives, and manage problems associated with policy integration, trade‐offs, and winners and losers. We outline 10 emergent research areas that we think can contribute to this endeavor and enable the nexus to be a stronger policy force.

Understanding the determinants and impact of the adoption of technologies for sustainable farming systems in water-scarce areas of Bangladesh

IntroductionBangladesh's quest to achieve sustainable development goals has highlighted the need to enhance resilience against the challenges that interconnected food, energy, and water (FEW) nexus systems faces to support human well-being. The government has decided to promote the adoption of competent and cutting-edge technologies that can significantly contribute to balancing energy and water resource utilization in achieving a more sustainable and climate-smart food production system. Hence, scaled-up adoption of solar-powered irrigation systems and recommended fertilizer dose (SIRFD) applications were proposed. This study, to provide practical policy implications, attempts to identify the determinants and impact of SIRFD adoption in water-scarce areas of Bangladesh.MethodsDeterminants of adoption were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression, and the adoption impact was analyzed using treatment effect models.ResultsThe results revealed that land typology, soil fertility perception, soil water retention, knowledge, environmental awareness, secondary income, close acquaintance adoption, and cash availability significantly influenced adoption decisions. The treatment effect model result indicated that farmers who adopted both technologies could reduce production costs by 1.36% and obtain an 8.92% higher ROI than non-adopters.ConclusionThe study findings suggest that policy interventions on scaling up SIRFD adoption require focusing on knowledge development village-based demonstration activities, group farming models backed by micro-finance, and avoiding launching conflicting schemes.

A Systematic Literature Review on Controlled-Environment Agriculture: How Vertical Farms and Greenhouses Can Influence the Sustainability and Footprint of Urban Microclimate with Local Food Production

The rapidly growing population and increasing urbanization have created the need to produce more food and transport it safely to urban areas where the majority of global consumers live. Open-field agriculture and food distribution systems have a lot of food waste, and, in parallel, the largest percentage of available arable land is already occupied. In most cases, food produced by compatible agricultural methods needs to be frozen and travel several miles until it reaches the consumer, with high amounts of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by this process, making it an unsustainable method with huge amounts of CO2 emissions related with fresh food products. This research contains an extensive literature review based on 165 international publications (from 2006–2022) describing and analyzing the efficiency and impact of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) methods, and more precisely, greenhouses (GHs) and vertical farms (VFs), in the environmental footprint of food production and consumption. Based on various publications, we could draw the conclusion that VFs could highly influence a greener transition to the sustainability of urban consumption with reduced CO2 emissions sourcing from food transportation and limited post-harvest processes. However, there is a significant demand for further energy efficiency, specifically when it comes to artificial lighting operations inside VFs. A large-scale implementation of VFs that operate with renewable energy sources (RES) could lead to significant urban decarbonization by providing the opportunity for integrated energy–food nexus systems. Under this direction, VFs could optimize the way that cities interact with meeting the food and energy demand in densely urbanized areas.

An assessment of strategies for sustainability priority challenges in Jordan using a water–energy–food Nexus approach

This study aimed at supporting robust decision-making for planning and management of water–energy–food Nexus systems in the country of Jordan. Nexus priority challenges in Jordan were identified as (1) water scarcity, (2) agricultural productivity and water quality, and (3) shift to energy independence. We created a water–energy–food Nexus model that integrates three modelling frameworks: (1) the Water Evaluation and Planning system WEAP model to estimate water demands, supplies and allocation; (2) the MABIA model to estimate crop production, and, (3) a GIS-based energy modelling tool to estimate energy requirements of the water system. Through a set of scenario runs, results show how desalination is needed to address water scarcity, but it has to be coupled with low-carbon electricity generation in order to not exacerbate climate change. Improving water productivity in agriculture improves most of the studied dimensions across the water–energy–food security nexus; however, it does little for water scarcity at the municipal level. Reducing non-revenue water can have positive effects on municipal unmet demand and reduction of energy for pumping, but it does not improve agricultural water productivity and may have negative feedback effects on the Jordan Valleys aquifer levels. Energy efficiency can support energy-intensive projects, like desalination, by substantially reducing the load on the energy system, preventing increased emissions and achieving a more resilient water system. Finally, when all interventions are considered together all of the major drawbacks are reduced and the benefits augmented, producing a more holistic solution to the WEF Nexus challenges in Jordan.

Opportunities and Challenges for Establishing a Resource Nexus Community of Science and Practice

The American Chemical Society’s Division of Environmental Chemistry symposium Toward Creating a Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus Community of Practice, brought together 25 cross-disciplinary speakers in five thematic areas: 1) state of the art models and approaches, 2) WEF Nexus initiatives and case studies, 3) WEF governance and stakeholder engagement, 4) chemical processes and WEF Nexus, 5) WEF education, community, and practice. Discussions included diverse perspectives from different areas of expertise and provided key take-home messages toward building a WEF community of practice. This paper summarizes those messages, drawing conclusions regarding the anticipated challenges and opportunities moving toward establishing a resource-nexus community of science and practice that includes the chemical societies. We define the community of science and practice as a bottom-up approach of formal and non-formal scientists, policy makers, practitioners, technology providers, and civil society members concerned with any aspect of water, energy, food, ecosystem resources allocation, management, governance, and financing. The roles of chemistry and chemical processes in understanding the interlinkages of nexus systems must not be overlooked. Chemistry plays an important role in the circularity of the food and agriculture system, and in providing cleaner energy, cleaner water, and more sustainable food production. The question is how to better engage the chemical society in the WEF nexus moving forward? The paper proposes the resource of health, highlighting major challenges and opportunities in the Water-Energy-Food-Health-Ecosystems (WEFH) Nexus, and highlights future steps for fostering dialogue among this broad, multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder community toward establishing an inclusive community of science and practice.

Resilience Analysis Framework for a Water–Energy–Food Nexus System Under Climate Change

Climate change impacts the water–energy–food security; given the complexities of interlinkages in the nexus system, these effects may become exacerbated when feedback loops magnify detrimental effects and create vicious cycles. Resilience is understood as the system’s adaptive ability to maintain its functionality even when the system is being affected by a disturbance or shock; in WEF nexus systems, climate change impacts are considered disturbances/shocks and may affect the system in different ways, depending on its resilience. Future global challenges will severely affect all vital resources and threaten environmental resilience. In this article, we present a resilience analysis framework for a water–energy–food nexus system under climate change, and we identify how such systems can become more resilient with the implementation of policies. We showcase results in the national case study of Greece. Parametric sensitivity analysis for socioecological systems is performed to identify which parameter the model is the most sensitive to. The case study is based on the structure of a system dynamics model that maps sector-specific data from major national and international databases while causal loop diagrams and stock-and-flow diagrams are presented. Through engineering and ecological resilience metrics, we quantify system resilience and identify which policy renders the system more resilient in terms of how much perturbation it can absorb and how fast it bounces back to its original state, if at all. Two policies are tested, and the framework is implemented to identify which policy is the most beneficial for the system in terms of resilience.

Development and synergetic evolution of the water-energy-food nexus system in the Yellow River Basin.

The water-energy-food nexus is a complex system where balancing the trade-offs across water, energy, and food sectors is especially difficult in resource-deficient areas. The Yellow River Basin is an area in which water shortages lead to conflicts among water, energy, and food resources. Thus, investigating the evolution state and spatial characteristics of the water-energy-food nexus in the Yellow River Basin is essential for the management of resources and sustainable development orientation of the region's water-energy-food nexus system. This study proposed an integrated assessment framework by using synergy theory and the integrated index system method. The improved Lotka-Volterra symbiotic model was used to elucidate the development and synergy evolution status of the water-energy-food nexus system in prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin between 2004 and 2019. The results show that the order degree of the water and energy subsystems in the Yellow River Basin increased by an average of 0.12 and 0.42, on average respectively, from 2004 to 2019, whereas that of the food subsystem only increased by an average of 0.004 compared to the initial year. Furthermore, most prefecture-level cities experienced subsystem degradation of one or two subsystems during the evolution of the water-energy-food nexus system. Based on the uniqueness and evolution process of each city, there are eight possibilities for system evolution and three types of feedback state between each pair of subsystems, which may lead to a certain spatial aggregation. Additionally, the interaction and competition states are more common than synergy states in the water-energy-food nexus system of the Yellow River Basin. This study provides an important basis and suggestions for the internal relationship and sustainable orientation of water-energy-food nexus systems in such water-deficient areas.

Optimization of agricultural resources in water-energy-food nexus in complex environment: A perspective on multienergy coordination

Synergistic regulation of various agricultural resources in agricultural water-energy-food nexus systems is important for understanding the key regulatory processes and related synergistic relationships. However, regulation with the goal of multienergy interaction and coordination to adapt to environmental changes is extremely challenging. As a solution to the problem, an uncertainty-based modeling approach is proposed for the optimal regulation of water, soil and energy resources from a multienergy synergy perspective by integrating multiobjective nonlinear programming, left–right type fuzzy numbers and credibility programming into a framework. The approach aims to assess the interactions and synergistic relationships among biomass electrical energy, light energy, and hydroelectric energy, clarify the dynamic characteristics of resource allocation and socioeconomic and environmental effects, and capture the high uncertainty in the nexus area. This study contributes to the efficient and sustainable management of agricultural water, energy and land resources. The approach was tested and implemented based on a case study of Jinxi Irrigation District in China. The results reveal that there are trade-offs and games among the light use efficiency, hydroelectric energy and biomass energy, and their coordination enhances the system synergy among resources, the economy and the environment by 12.22%, with a 2.67% increase in the irrigation water use efficiency and a 4.92% increase in the energy use efficiency. Uncertainties significantly affect the synergy among multiple energies. More water will promote collaborative energy management, with the coordination development degree will increase by 2.20% when the water quantity increases by 4.16%, however, it accompanied higher water scarcity risks.

The nexus social-ecological system framework (NexSESF): A conceptual and empirical examination of transdisciplinary food-water-energy nexus

Over the past decade, debates on the governance of food, water, and energy resources (FWE nexus) have increased, provoking new insights into social importance in ecological balance. Policymakers, management professionals, and scholars of the FWE nexus call for new approaches that address ranges of social and ecological impacts of uncoordinated sectoral planning. From a theoretical perspective, social-ecological systems (SES) science offers a balanced approach for improved FWE nexus through consolidating knowledge from a wide range of disciplines and providing the opportunity to adapt to the changing environment. However, although increasingly employed, it has been complicated to empirically monitor and evaluate the dynamic social-ecological nexus systems. A framework for translating SES theory into FWE nexus practice is needed. This paper develops an integrated assessment framework of the social-ecological nexus systems governance and presents results from its application to a Dutch smart-eco city. An integrative multi-level analysis scheme is used to analyze intra- and inter- relationships, quantify social and ecological impacts of uncoordinated FWE management, and visualize FWE supply-chain risks posed to cities by the dynamic humans and nature interactions. The evidence-based approach of this study proved advantages of the proposed framework in (i) revealing connections of natural resources and the cultural, regulating, and supporting services of nexus systems, and (ii) making practical recommendations for improved socio-ecologically-balanced nexus interventions. The results can support policymakers and management professionals of the FWE nexus to organize their analytical, diagnostic, and prescriptive capabilities to make development decisions on urban resilience and ecological balance.

Sources of Variability and Uncertainty in Food-Energy-Water Nexus Systems

Highlights Accounting for variability and uncertainty empowers stakeholders to make better-informed decisions. Considering spatial and temporal sources of variability contributes to more robust modeling systems. Stochastic methods that factor in uncertainty contribute to a better understanding of the FEW nexus systems. A robust modeling system will contribute to the design of resilient FEW nexus systems. Abstract. A nexus approach contributes to the strategic allocation of resources to secure food, energy, and water for the world population. Integrated models considering the complex interactions across food, energy, and water (FEW) enhance decision-making and strategic planning towards resilience. However, a significant number of the existing integrated models leave unaddressed the inherent variability and uncertainty present in the FEW sectors. Here, we review the importance of characterizing variability over spatial and temporal scales and the importance of decreasing the uncertainty present within a FEW nexus systems. The review also discusses existing modeling tools that address variability and uncertainty on single and paired elements of the FEW nexus systems, as well as integrated tools that address the sources of variability and uncertainty across the nexus. Finally, the review highlights the opportunity to address the limitations of existing models through multidisciplinary approaches and the potential to integrate publicly available models, as has already been the case for single and coupled elements of the FEW nexus. Addressing variability and uncertainty would improve the robustness of a FEW systems modeling and would provide stakeholders with the capacity to make better-informed decisions. Keywords: Climate variability, Food-water-energy nexus, Modeling, Spatial variability, Temporal variability, Uncertainty.

Energy-water-carbon nexus system planning: A case study of Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, China

In this study, a chance-constrained fractional programming model is developed for energy-water-carbon nexus systems in Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, China. The developed model can tackle the ratio objectives and multiple uncertainties expressed as interval numbers and probability distributions, and provide desired decision alternatives under different constraint-violation levels. Then, the developed model is applied to the strategic planning of the energy-water-carbon nexus system in Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration for addressing issues of energy-related water resource shortage and carbon emission reduction. Two different development patterns are designed in this strategic planning. One is to maximize the renewable electricity generation per unit of system cost corresponding to the system efficiency-oriented development pattern, while the other is to minimize the total system cost with respect to the economic benefit-oriented development pattern. The obtained comparative results show that the energy-water-carbon nexus system under the system efficiency-oriented development pattern would increase 21.71% of renewable electricity generation and 16.29% of system efficiency, save 8.95% of water resource, reduce 14.61% of carbon emission, but increase 4.07% of imported electricity and 7.85% of system cost over the planning horizon. These findings can provide profound solutions and insights for decision makers considering different policy implications. The application to Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration energy-water-carbon nexus system shows the practicability of the extension to other regions under severe situations of energy supply limitation, water resource shortage and carbon emission reduction.