In 2015 pellet production capacity in Spain, distributed among 79 plants, was 1,250,000 tonnes, but production did not exceed 475,000, the 38%. It is one of the data obtained from the ENplus day: five years committed to the quality of the wood pellet, celebrated this morning by Avebiom in the Madrid headquarters of Aenor.
It was also highlighted that Spain is the third country in the world with more pellets certified in the market (85% of production) and that despite the capacity/production ratio pointed out, since 2011 has increased by 2.71 consumption and Production has risen by 120%.
If we compare the 2015 data presented today by the Spanish Association for the Energetic Enhancement of Biomass (Avebiom) with those of the last statistical report of its European sister (Aebiom) we have that Spain consumes 2% of pellets in the European Union and Produces 3%. Exactly, in 2015 our country consumed 400,000 tons of the 20.3 million European and produced 475,000 of 14.1 million. Germany, Sweden, Latvia, Estonia and Austria in production and the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Sweden in consumption appear the first in both lists.
Spain does stand out in the certification of its production. During the day organized by Avebiom at the headquarters of Aenor in Madrid, it was stated that “at present, 85% of pellet production is ENplus certified, fifteen points above the European average.” Pablo Rodero, responsible for ENplus certification at Avebiom, said that we occupy “third place in the world ranking of certified wood pellets, only behind Germany and Italy.”
Sixty six ENplus certificates
On the Spanish classification with this label, Avebiom president, Javier Díaz, stressed that it is “a very relevant fact and clearly shows that the sector is concerned with providing quality to consumers.” Sixty-six ENplus certificates are currently issued, forty-six to production companies and twenty to distribution companies. In the day the official delivery of the certificate was made to the sixteen companies that have obtained it in the last year.
ENplus is a certification for pellets.
A last year, 2015, in which the ratio between installed capacity and actual production that has been showing the sector for years has been maintained. Although consumption (350,000 tons in 2014 and 400,000 in 2015) grows, production (410,000 and 475,000) and above all the number of plants installed (45-79 between 2014 and 2015), leaves the factories around One-third of its total capacity. In 2015 it was exactly, according to the data provided by Avebiom, 38% (475,000 of 1,250,000 tons).
In the forecasts made by Avebiom until 2020, the ratios improve (by 50%), but always very far from a production in line with the installed capacity. For this year a capacity of 1,372,000 tons is expected, a production of 550,000 and a consumption of 475,000 tons; for 2020 the figures are, respectively, 1,646,000, 792,000 and 665,000 tons. This journey, it was pointed out that the profile of the average factory in Spain has a production capacity of 17,500 tonnes, mainly for the domestic market, and a real average production of around 8,200 tonnes / year.
The EU produces 70% of the pellet it consumes
Undoubtedly, the consumption of pellets has grown ( “Spain has multiplied by 2.7 since 2012”), as Aebiom’s statistical report states: “Between 2014 and 2015, consumption of pellets for heating increased by 4.2%, despite having mild winters and low oil prices. The same report highlights that EU production covers 70% of its demand. The rest comes mainly from the United States and Canada.
Another relevant data from the Aebiom Statistical Report 2016 is that the majority of the pellet consumption went to the production of heat (63.9%), and within this thermal section it mainly covers the residential sector (42.2%). The remaining 36.1% of the consumption of wood pellets is used for the production of electricity, where the UK dominates largely due to its large thermal power stations converted into biomass.
Source: Javier Rico; Energías Renovables.
Images: Energías Renovables.