Abstract
This study aimed to explore the impact of the interaction between stakeholders in the sustainable development of the biomass industry and to reveal network issues relating to material flow and information flow under the current biomass energy development model. This study focused on the agriculture and forestry waste power generation industry. Taking the biomass industry in Nanjing, Suqian, and Yancheng as examples, the study selected six stakeholder groups involved in the industry and conducted field investigations by using semi-open interviews and questionnaires. The research mainly applied social network analysis methods, combined with UCINET software, to draw a network diagram of the stakeholder relationships and to quantitatively analyze stakeholder centrality and overall network density. The results revealed that (1) the biomass enterprises had the highest centrality in the overall network, which played a vital role in the construction of the overall network; (2) the farmers were positioned at the outer fringes of the industrial social network and their information acquisition capabilities and degree of control over the network were the lowest; and (3) the overall network density was low, which showed that the connections between stakeholders were not close enough to support the circulation of material and information in the overall network.
Highlights
China has abundant biomass resources and great development potential
The total amount of biomass that can be used for resource utilization each year is approximately equal to 460 million standard coal [1]
The social network analysis method is able to clarify social structures between interdependent social roles, and to apply symbolic graphics or measurement models in order to reveal hidden networks of relationships, thereby exposing the theoretical motives hidden under social relationships that lead to unsustainable industrial development [24,27]
Summary
China has abundant biomass resources and great development potential. Entering the “14th Five-Year Plan” stage (2021–2025), with the introduction of a series of policies, such as carbon peaking, carbon neutrality, green growth, and rural revitalization strategies, the market potential of China’s rural biomass energy industry has been enhanced [2]. Research concerning the problems of power generation from agricultural and forestry waste in China has mainly concentrated in the fields of economics, policies, regulations, and technology [3,4,5,6]. Zhang Shengyi and others analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of the development of China’s agricultural and forestry waste power generation industry and found that problems remain, such as unreasonable industrial layout and lack of efficiency in the supply chain [10,11]. A significant part of the above problems is caused by the inactive and insufficient participation of stakeholders in industry-related
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
