Carbon Reduction-Oriented Optimization Model for Sustainable Energy Production Considering Water-Energy-Food Nexus

The global imperative to mitigate climate change and promote sustainability necessitates an integrated approach to resource management, particularly within the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus. In response, we propose an optimization model to minimize carbon emissions from energy production within the WEF nexus by using both fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. The model ensures that energy production meets domestic demand, as well as provides the necessary energy for water and food processing. We validated the model through a case study conducted in Indonesia for the years 2021–2022. The results indicate that by incorporating renewable energy and a specific type of fossil fuel, carbon emissions can be reduced to 61,957.77 tons per year, which is below the target set by ASEAN countries. The results also demonstrate that water and energy usage are at 9.36% and 7.80% of their supply amounts, respectively, while fulfilling all WEF and domestic demands. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis reveals that increasing the energy supply by up to 25% favors the use of renewable energy due to its higher efficiency, further lowering carbon emissions to 48,804.40 tons per year, which is even better. This model serves as an aid for the government and related stakeholders to manage WEF resources, aiming to reduce total carbon emissions, particularly those from energy production, by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.