In 2022, pellet production will be above 900,000 tons.
In 2010, Spain had 29 pellet factories that produced 150,000 tons, mainly for export. In 2019, the 82 factories operating in Spain produced 714,000 tons, primarily for the domestic market, which is also 201,000 tons more than in 2018.
From this production, The 77% is intended for domestic use, Fifteen-kilogram bags are the most common form of consumption in the domestic market. This data comes from the Annual Statistical Report on the Pellet Market in Spain, recently prepared by AVEBIOM, the Spanish Association for the Energy Valorization of Biomass.
Another characteristic of the Spanish market is that Consumers demand the EN sealplus®, the most recognized quality certificate internationally. The 82% pellet manufactured in 2019 was certified under this seal.
By autonomous communities, Castile and León stands out with over 223,000 tons of production, followed by Catalonia with 97,000 tons, and Galicia in third place with 86,000 tons. Furthermore, there are factories in 16 of the 17 autonomous communities, which has generated thousands of new, stable jobs in rural areas.
A manufacturing adjustment is expected in 2020
In addition to being a record year in terms of production, 2019 was also a record year for the volume of wood pellets imported from Portugal. Overproduction in the neighboring country, caused by lower demand from the British market, facilitated the entry of 160,000 tons of pellets into Spain.
This increase in imports, coupled with the mild autumn in Spain, has meant that the warehouses of Spanish manufacturers and distributors were full and that the plants did not hesitate to adjust the pace of production to adapt to the current demand.
On the other hand, Due to COVID-19, the installation of new pellet boilers and stoves has slowed down., Therefore, the increase in consumption in Spain during 2020 is expected to remain at 2%, while the average growth trend of pellet consumption in Spain in the last three years was 12%.
Expectations for wood pellet production in Spain in 2022 are much more optimistic than for 2020, with a figure approaching 900,000 tons. Despite the abnormal collapse in oil prices, a series of legislative measures are expected from the Spanish government to promote the use of renewable energies in the coming years.
Like other EU countries, Spain has expressed its desire to the European Commission to support a “green” way out for the Post-Covid economy, This aligns with the EU's intention to reach an agreement to achieve more ambitious decarbonization targets by 2030.