Sales of residential biomass stoves and boilers increase 9.8%

The increase in the installation of new biomass stoves and boilers for residential use, with powers up to 50 kW, has registered a growth in business volume of 17.3% in 2019 compared to the previous year, up to 356 million euros. as reported by the director of Expobiomasa, Jorge Herrero, in reference to the 'Annual Report of the Biomass Observatory' that is being prepared by the Spanish Biomass Association AVEBIOM.

At the end of 2019, 343,706 biomass stoves and boilers were operating in Spain, installed mainly in independent homes; There are 57,659 more devices than the previous year, which represents an increase of 9.8% in the number of units sold. 

Since the Biomass Observatory began collecting information in 2009, according to Jorge Herrero, “the use of biomass as a source of renewable energy for heating in Spain has registered a growing trend, considerably improving sales during the economic crises that we have gone through; In fact, this year, sales aim to break a new record as it is the most effective alternative for heating second homes.”

In 2019, biomass stoves and boilers for residential use consumed around 447,000 tons of pellets and another 350,000 tons of biofuels of natural and renewable origin such as olive pits, from the olive oil industry, and nut shells. . 

The pellet alone consumed by stoves and boilers for residential use in Spain avoided the equivalent consumption of 225 million liters of heating oil in 2019 and, therefore, avoided harmful emissions equivalent to the circulation of 400,000 vehicles.

Employment and savings where it is most needed
The biomass used in Spain is of local origin and generates important economic activity in many areas. In fact, solid biofuels are local products that replace imports of natural gas or diesel, produced in third countries thousands of kilometers away, and generate 13 local jobs for every one generated by heating with natural gas or diesel.

The biomass consumed as biofuel in biomass stoves and boilers comes from waste and byproducts, both from the wood industry and the agri-food industry. In 2019, the biomass production chain for the residential sector created 842 new jobs, reaching 6,000 direct workers, 16.1% more than the previous year. 

Jobs are generated in the manufacturing, marketing, installation and maintenance of biomass stoves and boilers, and also, and very intensively, in the production and marketing of biofuels. These jobs represent a very important contribution to the revitalization of economic activity in rural society.