Energy simulation modeling for water-energy-food nexus system: a systematic review

Since essential nexus variables were not considered in the energy subsystem, this study focused on the role of energy in the Water, Energy, and Food nexus (WEF nexus) system. The energy subsystem interacts with water and food on the supply and demand sides. The WEF nexus-based energy model has not been reviewed recently. This study provides a systematic review of 459 articles regarding energy simulation modeling issues relating to the WEF nexus system. The keyword ("energy" AND "simulation" AND "nexus") as well as "water" OR "food" OR "climate" OR "land" OR "carbon" OR "environment" is used for searching WEF nexus documents for energy simulation. The review highlighted that the energy subsystem is modeled online (One-way) and offline (Two-way), and the energy simulation struggles to represent its system boundary with the water and food subsystems in different spatial scales (household to global). The energy subsystem of the WEF nexus did not address return flow from cooling towers and crop energy consumption comprehensively. In the research, the supply and demand section of the energy subsystem demonstrated that a comprehensive simulation model for energy can be developed using the nexus system approach. The energy subsystem's supply, primarily power plants, interacts with the water subsystem, and the energy generation policy is based on water use. The WEF nexus system assesses renewable energy effects to reduce tradeoffs. In addition, energy demand is related to energy consumption, so the energy consumption for each crop can be calculated and explained the appropriate cultivation pattern based on it.