A dynamic analysis on global biomass energy trade network

Abstract

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the development of biomass energy. Global biomass energy trade plays an important role in this development process. However, due to the uneven distribution of biomass energy supply and demand, as well as different policies in different regions, the development of biomass energy, to some extent, has been affected. Thus, it is essential to investigate the evolution mode of global biomass energy trade, so as to promote its balanced development and sustainable growth. In this paper, we analysed the dynamic evolution of global biomass energy trade from 2011 to 2017 based on complex network theory and some conclusions were given. Firstly, the results show that the overall volumes of biomass energy trade is on the rise, but its mode tends to be low density with a large volume of trade concentrated in some countries. Secondly, it is worth noting that European countries and the North America are more active in global biomass energy trade, while only a small number of developing countries, like Brazil, China and India, have certain influence on the biomass energy trade. Thirdly, it seems that most countries prefer to establish biomass energy trade export relationships with other countries rather than import. Finally, given the poor performance of both in-degree and out-degree in the Middle East and North African regions over time, more attention should be paid to the development of biomass energy in these areas. The main contribution of this paper is to understand the market evolution of global biomass energy trade in 2011-2017 from the perspective of complex networks, being a supplement to the existing researches on biomass energy trade.