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2026 Vol.59, Issue 3

Research Article / 우수학생논문상

Water consumption characteristics of energy and food sectors using water footprints

물발자국을 활용한 에너지 및 식량 부문의 물 소비 특성 분석

Min Ji Kima
,
Ji Eun Kimb
,
Kyoungju Leec
,
Tae-Woong Kimd*
김 민지a
,
김 지은b
,
이 경주c
,
김 태웅d*
aPh.D. Student, Department of Smart City Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea
bPostdoctoral Researcher, Institution of Engineering Technology, Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea
cPh.D. Student, Department of Civil and Environmental System Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea
dProfessor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Ansan, Korea
a한양대학교 대학원 스마트시티공학과 박사과정
b한양대학교(ERICA) 공학기술연구소 박사후연구원
c한양대학교 대학원 건설환경시스템공학과 박사과정
d한양대학교(ERICA) 건설환경공학과 교수
*Corresponding Author
31 March 2026. pp. 233-243
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Abstract

Water, energy, and food are interconnected as key resources for human life and sustainable development. The water footprint methodology is gaining attention as a way to integrate consumption across resource sectors based on common standards and quantitatively analyze regional characteristics and interactions between sectors. This study characterized the water consumption of energy and food sectors across 17 Korean provinces by analyzing their water footprints. In the energy sector, considering energy source consumption, cooling methods, and regional water stress indices, Ulsan registered the highest water footprint (1,083.7 m3/ton), Chungnam (621.5 m3/ton) and Incheon (600.8 m3/ton) also ranked high largely reflecting their extensive power generation and industrial structure. On the other hand, solar and wind power were the lowest among all energy sources, confirming them as environmentally friendly sources with negligible water resource burdens. In the food sector, the water footprint was calculated by distinguishing green (rainwater), blue (irrigation), and gray (pollution dilution) water footprints, focusing on rice cultivation. The total national average water footprint was calculated to be 4,821 m3/ton. Excluding Jeju, the national average was approximately 1,900 m3/ton. For inland regions excluding Jeju, with green water dominating the composition (over 90%), blue water and gray water comprised only 3-5% and less than 1%, respectively. This pattern highlights the predominant reliance of the Korean food sector on rain-fed agriculture. This study effectively compared the relative scale and spatial distribution of water consumption across the energy and food sectors by quantifying their resource usage in a single unit (m3). The results can be used to establish integrated resource management strategies based on water-energy-food Nexus and to develop policies responding to climate change.

Keywords
Water footprint
Energy consumption
Food production
Water stress index

물, 에너지, 식량은 인류 삶과 지속가능한 발전의 기반이 되는 핵심자원으로 상호 연계되어 있다. 각 자원 부문의 소비량을 동일한 기준으로 통합하고, 지역별 특성과 부문 간 상호작용을 정량적으로 분석할 수 있는 방법론인 물발자국이 대두되고 있다. 본 연구는 물발자국을 활용하여 우리나라 17개 시도의 에너지 및 식량 부문의 물 소비 특성을 분석하였다. 에너지 부문에서는 에너지원별 소비량, 냉각 방식, 지역별 물 스트레스 지수를 고려하여 산정한 결과, 울산(1,083.7 m3)이 전국에서 가장 높은 물발자국을 보였으며, 충남(621.5 m3)과 인천(600.8 m3) 역시 발전·산업 중심 구조로 상위권을 차지하였다. 반면, 태양광과 풍력은 전체 에너지원 중 가장 낮은 수준으로, 수자원 부하가 거의 없는 친환경적 에너지원임을 확인하였다. 식량 부문에서는 쌀 재배를 중심으로 녹색(강우), 청색(관개), 회색(오염 희석) 물발자국을 구분하여 산정하였다. 전국 평균 총 물발자국은 4,821 m3/ton으로 계산되었으며, 제주를 제외할 경우, 전국 평균은 약 1,900 m3/ ton으로 산정되었다. 제주를 제외한 내륙 지역의 구성 비율은 녹색 90% 이상, 청색 3 ~ 5%, 회색 1% 미만으로, 우리나라 식량 부문이 강우 의존형 농업 구조임을 보여준다. 본 연구는 에너지와 식량 부문의 자원 소비량을 단일 단위(m3)로 정량화하여 부문별 상대적 규모와 공간적 분포를 효과적으로 비교하였다. 본 연구결과는 물-에너지-식량(WEF) 넥서스 기반의 통합 자원 관리 전략 수립 및 기후변화 대응 정책 개발에 활용 가능하다.

키워드
물발자국
에너지 소비
식량 생산
물 스트레스 지수
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREA WATER RESOURECES ASSOCIATION
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국수자원학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korea Water Resources Association
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국수자원학회 논문집
  • Volume : 59
  • No :3
  • Pages :233-243
  • Received Date : 2025-10-17
  • Revised Date : 2025-12-27
  • Accepted Date : 2025-12-29
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.3741/JKWRA.2026.59.3.233
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