From suitability to synergy in the energy–ecology nexus: a generalizablecoupling–coordination framework with a Qinghai–Tibet Plateau demonstration

Ambitious renewable expansion in ecologically fragile regions must reward not only scale but also match with environmental limits.We present a general couplingcoordination framework that evaluates clean-energy buildout and ecological integrity on the same decision footing.For each location we derive energy efficacy 𝑆 and ecological efficacy 𝐸.Match quality is measured by a symmetric, bounded coupling function 𝐶; overall development uses an ecology-prioritised index 𝑇; their geometric blend 𝐷 yields a single coordination score that enforces explicit scale thresholds (𝐷 2 ≤ 𝑇) and achieves its upper envelope only along the balance line 𝑆= 𝐸.We classify cells into coordination tiers (D1-D5) and label the dominant subsystem (ecology-led, balanced, energy-led) to generate rank-driver codes that translate analysis into action.Applied to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, historical assets (n=1,606) cluster in the mid-to-high corridor-91.90%well coordinated (D4), 6.04% high-quality (D5), 2.05% barely coordinated (D3)-while internal imbalance is common (ecology-led 60.77%, balanced 13.88%, energy-led 25.34%), implying that unilateral expansion would depress coupling.A resource-based assessment shows a resilient, ecology-led landscape (median 𝐷 =0.777, mean 𝐷 =0.767, mean 𝐶 =0.959; mean 𝑆 =0.499, mean 𝐸 =0.695), with province-scale contrasts: Gansu high-𝐶 but single-driver; Qinghai high-level and more balanced; Tibet tri-modal with ridge-adjacent optima and energy-pressured pockets; Xinjiang potential constrained by grid/flexibility; Yunnan and Sichuan coordination limited by engineering accessibility.The diagnostics point to three robust pathways-close the lagging subsystem, expand near the balance ridge, and pace build intensity with grid, storage and ecological restoration-providing a generalisable, auditable instrument for high-quality clean-energy growth under ecological redlines.