Ecological　network　analysis　can　eliminate　the　“black　box”　problem　in　research　on　urban　energy　systems　by　examining　the　metabolic　processes　and　pathways　within　these　systems.　This　study　analyzed　and　compared　the　general　methods　for　analyzing　urban　energy　metabolism　and　found　that　ecological　network　analysis　was　superior　to　other　methods.　We　comprehensively　summarized　the　main　components　of　the　ecological　network　analysis　and　systematically　reviewed　the　application　of　this　method　to　urban　energy　metabolism.　Based　on　this　analysis,　we　concluded　that,　in　the　future,　ecological　network　analyses　of　urban　energy　metabolism　could　be　improved　in　the　following　aspects:　(1)　expand　the　research　scale;　(2)　strengthen　the　combination　of　ascendency　analysis　and　network　environ　analysis;　(3)　compare　the　precision　of　different　models.　©　2019　Science　Press.　All　rights　reserved.