Pellet consumption in Spain increased in 2021

The Spanish Biomass Association, AVEBIOM , has just published the new statistical report on the wood pellet market . In this report you can find production and consumption data for wood pellets both nationally and by autonomous community. It also includes statistics on the evolution of the ENplus® certification system in Spain.

In 2021 there has been an increase in factory productivity that coincides with a decrease in the number of plants registered compared to the previous year, which went from 85 to 75 operational facilities, and to 76 this year . In general, the plants that disappear are very small or have already been inactive for some time, so these closures have barely affected production figures. On the other hand, several companies have made improvements in recent months to increase capacity, hence the overall increase.

The energy crisis that began in 2020 seems to be enquist and many citizens and companies throughout the EU have made the option of technology change reality in recent months. Thus, in parallel to the record increase of 40% in the installation of stoves and boilers that occurred in our country during 2021, pellet consumption has also increased by 13.5% . Eur calculations , it increased by 18%.

In 2022, consumption is expected to grow again and be around 865,000 tons . National manufacturers have made a great effort in this complex year, increasing production and prioritizing their service to Spanish customers; Thus, we see that the production curve is once again approaching the quantities needed by users of pellet equipment in the country.

Most of the national production is already ENplus certified, taking up 87% of the market; Virtually all major plants produce under the quality scheme, but every year new distributors join, which improves the consistency of a quality offer to the consumer. Between 2020 and December 2022, 2 new plants and 9 suppliers have been certified, reaching 100 certificates issued in Spain.

Although the statistical report does not analyze the prices, Pablo Rodero, head of certification in Avebiom and current president of the Eur OPEO of the Pellet (EPC) , highlights that “despite the remarkable rise that has suffered the price of the pellet this year, its energy cost (€/kWh) has always remained lower than any fossil fuel or electricity. In Eur OP of the pellet and also of the splinter, which must soon begin to notice in Spain. ”

In fact, since October the price curve for pellets for domestic use has begun to smooth out and the average price of a 15 kg bag at the end of November stood at €7.79 , making it possible to find it at lower prices.

The statistics of this report have been made thanks to the data specifically collected by Avebiom during the months of June to August 2022 to prepare the report itself and the biofuel map that we publish in our magazine Biomasa News. In addition, these data are part of the statistical report that Bioenergy EurOpe, the eurOPEA Association of Bioenergy, and has been published in November 2022.