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Abstract: We propose a spatial weighted network model based on the optimal expected traffic. The expected traffic represents the prediction of the flow created by two vertices and is calculated by the improved gravity equation. The model maximizes the total expected traffic of the network. By changing two parameters which control the fitness and the geographical constraints, the model can vary its topology and give rise to a variety of statistical properties observed in the real-world network. Notably, our study shows that a linear and a nonlinear strength–degree correlation can emerge when considering and neglecting the “transport effect”, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Detailed local topographic and wake effects and array efficiencies are considered. • Enhancing agricultural area utilization rates boost the technical potential by 36%. • The averaging EROI of 3 MW wind turbine across geographic areas in China is 11.4:1. • The maximum technical potential of China's onshore wind energy is 3501 TW h/yr. • The net potential is 2335 and 3194 TW h/yr when EROI = 11.4:1 in two scenarios. Due to the advantages of relatively mature technologies and low greenhouse gas pollution, wind energy represents a vital energy alternative for electricity generation. Using onshore wind power has become increasingly important in China. Currently, wind energy faces energy return on investment (EROI) and geographical constraints, which both have significant impacts on net wind energy potential. This study combines GIS modeling, wind turbine performance, and the wind speed distribution with a large daily dataset to estimate onshore technical and net wind energy potential in China and to visualize the available wind energy potential. In this study, more detailed local topographic effects (changing air density, surface roughness, air density, array placement efficiency) were considered despite the complexity of applying them at a country level. The results show that the technical potential of China's onshore wind energy could reach 2560 TW h/yr in a 0% agriculture land scenario and 3501 TW h/yr in a 70% agriculture land scenario, and the net energy potential could reach 2335 TW h/yr and 3194 TW h/yr when EROI = 11.4:1 (when averaging performance of turbines across geographic areas) in these two different scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]