Biomass heating generated more than 70 million euros in Galicia in 2017

The biomass sector generated a business of 77.2 million euros in Galicia in 2017, as a result of the significant increase registered in the installation of new technologically advanced stoves and boilers, according to data from the Biomass Observatory. This monitoring does not include data corresponding to traditional firewood-fueled equipment, such as old stoves, barbecues and other less efficient equipment.

At the end of 2017, a total of 15,028 modernized biomass heating stoves and boilers operated in Galicia, 24.5% more than the previous year, an increase that is 1.5 points above the national average (23%). This increase has been transferred to the generated business figure, which rose by almost 6% in 2017, despite the negative growth, compared to the previous year, registered in A Coruña and Pontevedra, clearly offset in the regional calculation by the data from Lugo (6.3%) and especially from Ourense (34%).

The productive activity carried out by the sector around biomass equipment is estimated to employ 602 people in Galicia, especially in the sale and installation of stoves and boilers with greater efficiency, maintenance of equipment and supply of fuels (wood chips , pellet and other types of biomass).

The employment figure reached at the end of 2017 represents an annual increase of 13.5%, which is slightly below the state average in recent years, which is growing at rates of 15% (more than a thousand new jobs every year).

Regarding the total installed power, in Galicia it rose to 673.3 MW in 2017, 12% more than the previous year, which is allowing the generation of a volume of thermal energy estimated at 95.6 kTEP, 9. 3% more.

This greater substitution of biomass for heating diesel consumption (111.4 million liters) has also allowed a lower emission of greenhouse gases, which is estimated at 295,607 tons of CO2, thus contributing to the fight against climate change. climate by avoiding the pollution produced by 197,072 vehicles during a year.

Regarding the total installed power, in Galicia it rose to 673.3 MW in 2017, 12% more than the previous year, which is allowing the generation of a volume of thermal energy estimated at 95.6 kTEP, 9. 3% more.

This greater substitution of biomass for heating diesel consumption (111.4 million liters) has also allowed a lower emission of greenhouse gases, which is estimated at 295,607 tons of CO2, thus contributing to the fight against climate change. climate by avoiding the pollution produced by 197,072 vehicles during a year.

In Spain as a whole, the most technologically advanced biomass heating sector generated a business of 855.5 million euros in 2017, 9% more than the previous year, as well as the creation of more than a thousand jobs, 15% more than the previous year. % further

At the end of 2017, 244,197 heating installations powered by biomass were operating in Spain, 46,027 more than the previous year (23%). The greatest increase in biomass heating installations has been driven by the sale of pellet stoves, which in 2017 alone rose to 42,728 units. This sales figure, which represents a new record, represents an annual increase of 19%.

The biomass sector employs 17,360 people in Spain, according to data from the Biomass Observatory. Of these, approximately 50% (8,650) correspond to the jobs generated by the most technologically advanced heating activity and the sale of higher efficiency equipment. The rest, 8,710 jobs, are in the most traditional activity, linked to the use of firewood, as well as electricity generation with biomass of forestry or agri-food origin.