Biomass prevented the emission of 3.68 million tons of CO2 in 2016

At the end of 2016, 198,887 high-performance biomass heating systems were operating in Spain, 38,851 more than in 2016 (+24%), with a total installed capacity of 8,297.6 MW. This data is provided by the Biomass Observatory, which is managed by the Spanish Association for the Energy Valorization of Biomass, AVEBIOM.

Specifically, 35,815 pellet stoves were installed in Spain during 2016, a 22% increase over the previous year, setting a new sales record. The sales trend for these stoves, which has shifted towards large DIY stores, continues to rise, with increasingly lower-powered but more technologically advanced models. The average power output of the stoves sold in 2016 was 11.3 kW.

However, the number of boilers installed last year was lower than in 2015: those under 50kW were 16% lower, while those of 50 kW or more (industrial and collective installations) registered a decrease of 15%.

According to Javier Díaz, president of AVEBIOM, these figures “show that Spanish society still needs much more information. In other words, we need to make a greater effort in communication, because what biomass offers is good for users and very positive for the general interests of the country.”.

“However,” says Javier Díaz, “at the moment, the data already point to a change in trend, most likely driven by the sharp increase in the price of heating oil, which last winter cost up to 50% more than the previous year.”.