The world-leading certification scheme for wood pellet quality, ENplus, has certified over 13.6 million metric tons (mmt) of wood pellets in 2023. The volume is similar to the previous two years, which is a direct result of the challenges in the pellet market for the period of 2021- '23. The increase of pellet price, supply chain disruptions and the sudden drop in the sales of pellet appliances shook confidence in the market.

Nonetheless, the uncertainty seems to be over, with current estimates foreseeing growth to over 14.5 mmt of wood pellets to be certified by the certification scheme this year (as a result of the figures reported by the certified companies).

Germany remains the country with largest certified production of almost 3.7 mmt of ENplus-certified pellets produced in 2023. The runner-up is Austria, which increased its annual certified production by 100,000 mt to more than 1.6 mmt. France comes in third, followed closely by Spain in the fourth place. The top five list of countries with the largest certified pellet output for 2023 is completed by Belgium, with almost 600,000 mt of certified pellets.

As of May 2024, the country with the most ENplus-certified pellet producers is Poland, where the market seems to embrace the certification more than ever. Despite the war in Ukraine, the country is another example of increasing numbers of newly issued certificates.

International Expansion
While the certification scheme continues to play a key role in Europe, it is expanding its impact worldwide. In the past few months, the number of pellet producers with an active certification in Brazil has increased to over 30. That led to the organization of the scheme’s first training in the country, dedicated to the quality managers of the certified companies.

Less than a year after joining the list of countries where the certification scheme is present, China already has eight certified pellet producers and one certified pellet trader, while Japan now has its first two certified pellet traders.

Appreciation from Pellet Consumers
To stay adapted to the market’s needs, the certification scheme regularly looks for feedback from pellet consumers. A recent survey analyzing the participation of over 200 stakeholders from 21 countries concluded that despite the challenges faced in past years, consumers plan to continue using pellets as their heating solution. That’s primarily because they are a cheaper heating option in comparison to solutions such as gas and electricity, but also because pellets are environmentally friendly.

Not surprisingly, the majority would choose a local producer or trader, as over 80% of the respondents value the proximity of the supplier to their home. The delivery service remains one of the important purchasing factors—three out of four consumers have their pellets delivered by the pellet trader or producer.

A total of 90% of the respondents who are aware of ENplus and what the scheme stands for share that they consider it important when purchasing pellets, which highlights its contribution to the development of the premium market.

Fraud Management Achievements
One of the scheme’s unique characteristics is the active fraud management that follows up on every misuse of the trademark. If consumers are misled about the quality of their pellets, they might experience a severe negative impact on the maintenance and efficiency of their appliance; therefore, ENplus encourages anyone who suspects fraudulent use of the ENplus trademark to report it via our online form.

In 2023 alone, more than 150 fraud cases were solved, which led to a greater achievement—more than 1,100 fraud cases identified and solved in total. Additionally, the blacklist where all fraudulent entities are exposed to the public has also been updated and now includes over 320 companies that should not be trusted by pellet professionals and consumers.

The Good Examples
It’s not just bad market actors who receive special attention, but also those who lead by example. This year the scheme’s management put in the spotlight the companies who were among the first to join, and have remained loyal for over a decade.

Their inspirational stories, good practices and impact on the local economy are shared through a dedicated series that can be followed via the scheme’s website and digital communications channels. Among the participants are the first certified pellet producer in the Netherlands, Plospan Bio-Energy, who impress with their sustainability efforts; the first certified producer in Bulgaria, Pirin Pellet, who creates jobs for a local community in a rural area; and a Croatian pellet producer, Energy Pellets d.o.o., who puts extra effort in contributing to the Paris Agreement objectives.

Author: Dobromir Yankov
Marketing Manager, Bioenergy Europe
www.bioenergyeurope.org

Dobromir Yankov.css-7jxktu{position:absolute;bottom:0px;left:0px;right:0px;height:3px;border-radius:3px;background-color:var(--chakra-colors-brandBlack);}

Latest Articles

ENplus Certified Pellet Production: Impacts Worldwide

Dobromir Yankov