Until December 30, 2024, exhibitors who confirm their participation will receive a 10% discount on the rental price of the space. In addition, AVEBIOM members will have an additional 10% discount.

Until December 30, 2024, exhibitors who confirm their participation will receive a 10% discount on the rental price of the space. In addition, AVEBIOM members will have an additional 10% discount.

The fifteenth edition of EXPOBIOMASA will be held from 6 to 8 May 2025 at the Valladolid Fair; organized by the Spanish Biomass Association (AVEBIOM), EXPOBIOMASA has established itself as one of the most important in the bioenergy sector, both in the Iberian Peninsula and globally. In the last edition of 2023, it attracted thousands of professionals from more than 30 countries.

The first recruitment period, which ended on 30 June, has already attracted a significant number of companies, confirming their participation and the optimism of the sector in all its areas of activity.

What can be seen at EXPOBIOMASA 2025?

EXPOBIOMASA will continue to show the latest solutions for domestic heating, with an extensive representation of the most important manufacturers of pellet, bone and wood stoves and small and medium power boilers, with all the necessary accessories for their correct installation.

Producers will also be present. solid biofuels and the manufacturers and distributors of equipment for its production and transfer, together with the suppliers of machinery for the handling and initial transformation of all types of agroforestry biomass.

Another central theme will be the generation of energy industrial scale, both thermal and electrical. Given the growing need for decarbonisation of the industry, high-power biomass boilers are proving to be a reliable, efficient and economically attractive solution. As a result, their installation is increasing significantly in various industrial sectors.

The heat networks Biomass-based power plants will also occupy a prominent place. They have been positioned as an extraordinary solution to decarbonise cities, capable of eliminating hundreds of chimneys that emit pollutants from fossil fuels, and of supplying renewable heating, cooling and hot water to thousands of homes and buildings.

Technologies that expand the range of solutions from biomass

One of the outstanding novelties in the 2025 edition will be the presence of technologies related to the biochar and other bioenergy-related carbon capture and storage technologies (BECCS). Solutions that can play a significant role in strategies for net and long-term carbon removal from the atmosphere, in the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors and in the sustainable management of biomass.  

The liquid biofuels, a necessary and essential complement to electrification and renewable fuels of non-biological origin, will also be present at EXPOBIOMASA. Attendees will be able to learn about second-generation biofuels produced from waste, as well as advances in new sustainable crops. In addition, the latest developments in biorefining will be presented, such as the co-production of food, biomaterials, renewable hydrogen and synthetic fuels derived from biogenic CO2, including methanol and SAF (sustainable aviation fuels), which are charting a solid path worldwide.

Technical Conference

EXPOBIOMASA 2025 will host several sessions focused on different key aspects of the sector, addressing how European sustainability policies and others influence the deployment of bioenergy. These sessions will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to expand their knowledge of emerging technologies and decarbonisation strategies.

EXPOBIOMASA will once again be the key place to explore innovations, their practical application in various sectors and a unique opportunity for manufacturers, distributors and professionals in the sector to establish new alliances.

More than 400 exhibitors are expected to participate, showcasing the latest technologies, products and services related to biomass.

www.expobiomasa.com

Expobiomasa 2023 in figures

  • 9.500 professional visitors, 20% more than in 2021
  • 460 exhibiting companies from 34 countries, dedicated to the manufacture of forestry machinery, solid biofuel and pellet industries, manufacturers, distributors and installers of air conditioning systems, developers of heating networks, engineering, auxiliary industry, energy service companies and investment groups
  • Expobiomasa 2023 in video. Exhibition, technical conferences, round tables. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiI9QXKYMxh15zEOtYVj3GJ9wHyTtbACv&si=ULup-DDjbe7kLywJ

 

The energy that an industry needed for its production processes or a neighborhood community or a hotel to heat its residents in 2022 was 4,6 times more expensive if it was obtained with gas than if wood chips were used.

The energy that an industry needed for its production processes or a neighborhood community or a hotel to heat its residents in 2022 was 4,6 times more expensive if it was obtained with gas than if wood chips were used.

Domestic pellet consumers, for their part, saved 44% compared to gas consumers. These are data from Eurostats and IDAE prepared by the Spanish Association of Biomass for the second semester of 2022 in Spain.

When in the summer of 2022 we saw how the energy crisis was literally running over us, the solid biofuel manufacturing sector -pellets, chips, bone...- set itself two objectives: to ensure the supply of the national market and to maintain price competitiveness against the fossil fuels.

Thus, national manufacturers and distributors controlled the volume of their exports to Central Europe, where the sale prices, despite the higher cost of transport and the consequent emissions, were much higher and the distribution centers were advancing purchases to try to avoid the collapse and an excessive rise in prices in their markets.

The vertiginous increase in the costs of electricity -in August 2022, one of the months with the highest production in pellet factories in Spain, the cost of electricity multiplied by five compared to the previous year- and of wood at source, caused due to a much higher demand than the supply, caused the unusual rise in pellet prices, which the producers tried as far as possible not to pass on in all their magnitude to the consumers.

Now that the waters are beginning to calm down, we see that both objectives have been met: there have been enough pellets and chips for consumers and prices, despite being much higher than the previous year, have continued to maintain an appreciable differential with those of the conventional fossil fuels (electricity, gas and heating oil), confirming that biomass has been, in 2022, the most economical source of energy for heating.

The European Statistical Office, Eurostats, has published the average prices, including taxes and fees, that consumers have actually paid in Spain and in the rest of the countries in 2022 and there we once again verify that biomass is the energy source that most savings generates heating and industrial heat users, sectors that consume close to 40% of the total energy in our country.

Comparing…

If we look at the prices that domestic consumers we have paid for energy, including taxes, fees, caps, etc., we see that electricity has had an average price of 33,50 euro cents per kWh, gas 18,55 cents, diesel 11,34 cents and the pellet 10,38 cents per kWh. In summary: heating with gas is 44% more expensive than heating with pellets, and heating with electric radiators, for example, costs three times as much as heating with pellets.

focusing attention in large consumers such as a community of neighbors, a hotel or an industry, for example, the average price of industrial gas in the second half of 2022 reached 13,68 euro cents per kWh, double that in 2021 and triple that in 2020, compared to the unbeatable price of wood chips, whose average was 2,95 euro cents per kWh during the second half of last year.

Conclusion…

If we look at the price that consumers pay in the end, including fixed costs, tolls, taxes and the final prices set by energy companies when the supply runs out, biomass heating is much cheaper.

 

 

 

Spain celebrates Bioenergy Day 30 on Saturday, November 2024. A symbolic date from which, and until the end of the year, bioenergy could cover all the country's energy needs, including electricity, heat and transport. 

Spain celebrates Bioenergy Day 30 on Saturday, November 2024. A symbolic date from which, and until the end of the year, bioenergy could cover all the country's energy needs, including electricity, heat and transport. 

Biomass heating and cooling networks connect homes, public buildings, hospitals and industries under a common energy system that harnesses sustainable local resources, perfectly embodying the spirit of the slogan chosen by Bioenergy Europe for the European Bioenergy Day 2024 campaign: “Our shared steps towards the energy transition.”

For this reason, la Spanish Biomass Association (AVEBIOM has decided to commemorate the date by highlighting the essential role of biomass heating and cooling networks in the decarbonisation of cities and towns, the reduction of energy dependence and the protection of the country's natural resources.

“Biomass heating networks are a real bridge between the rural and urban worlds. The sustainable management of forest and agricultural biomass helps prevent forest fires, generate employment and stimulate local economies. When these resources are transformed into renewable energy to heat homes and buildings in our cities, we are moving forward together and more efficiently towards the cleaner and more sustainable energy model that we all want,” says Javier Diaz, president of AVEBIOM.

The positive impact of biomass heating networks is increasing every year in Spain, with 523 networks operating in the country, according to data collected by the Biomass Observatory for 2023, a cumulative capacity of 491,54 MW and more than 820.000 MWh of thermal energy delivered to consumers.

These biomass networks avoid the emission of approximately 180.000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, by replacing the consumption of around 80.000 tonnes of oil equivalent with just over 200.000 tonnes of wood chips, olive stones and pellets of sustainable origin.

The AVEBIOM biomass observatory began collecting data in 2010, when the country had only 71 biomass heating and cooling networks, with a total capacity of 48,26 MW. Since then, the expansion of these infrastructures has been constant, with an average annual growth rate of 5,9% in the number of networks and 11,6% in installed capacity.

With each new biomass heating network, we take a firm step towards a cleaner, more accessible and fair energy future for all..

https://europeanbioenergyday.eu/success-stories-2024-europe/

www.avebiom.org

During an intense week of activity, AVEBIOM has participated in several events of strategic relevance for the bioenergy sector in Europe, where it has defended the need to carry out lobbying work to prevent the unification of heat pumps and biomass stoves in the European eco-labeling regulations.

During an intense week of activity, AVEBIOM has participated in several events of strategic relevance for the bioenergy sector in Europe, where it has defended the need to carry out lobbying work to avoid the unification of heat pumps and biomass stoves in the regulations. European eco-labeling.

"We are working closely with Bioenergy Europe to ensure that eco-labeling fairly reflects the unique features and benefits of biomass stoves, and to avoid artificial barriers to their commercialization," says Javier Díaz, president of AVEBIOM.

Within the framework of General Assembly of Bioenergy Europe At its 20th meeting on XNUMX November, AVEBIOM stressed the importance of avoiding the unification of biomass stoves and heat pumps within the eco-labelling. This change, currently under consideration, could constitute an artificial barrier to the marketing of biomass stoves, with a negative impact on both manufacturers and consumers.

Heat pumps and biomass stoves are technologies with different uses, efficiencies and applications, so joint labelling could cause confusion among consumers, affecting their ability to choose solutions appropriate to their energy needs. In addition, this unification would disproportionately favour heat pumps, reducing the competitiveness of Biomass, a key technology for the decarbonisation of the residential sector and to achieve European climate objectives.

A week for bioenergy

During the assembly, the action plan for 2025 was approved, which provides for lobbying work at European level to prevent this unification and other actions such as the creation of a new Working Group dedicated to Promote the use of biomass in industrial applications or the revitalization of the Bioenergy Days campaign to raise awareness of bioenergy at European and national level.

In addition, Bioenergy Europe renewed almost half of its board of directors, following the recent amendment of the statutes to promote gender balance. Currently, approximately 40% of the board members are women, reflecting the sector's commitment to diversity.

The conference took place on November 20 and 21 European Bioenergy Future (EBF2024), organised by Bioenergy Europe, where cutting-edge topics such as bioenergy with carbon capture (BECCS) or biochar were addressed. The Spanish MEP Nicolás González Casares, who has worked on the Renewables Directive Review, participated online, highlighting the role of bioenergy in European climate objectives: “Without bioenergy we will not be able to achieve zero emissions.”

Also last week the General Assembly of the European Pellet Council, managing entity of the ENplus® seal worldwide and chaired by Pablo Rodero, head of certification at AVEBIOM. During the meeting on 19 November, an assessment was made of the initiatives undertaken this year to promote pellets as a sustainable fuel in Europe and the actions and budget for 2025 were approved.

The agenda closed on November 21 with two technical events: one ENplus training for quality managers, held in Belgium, and a technical conference focused on gasification and pyrolysis. These technologies are capable of producing biochar and contributing to carbon sequestration, and can constitute an efficient way to synthesize sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

 

 

The Spanish Biomass Association, AVEBIOM, publishes a price comparison between the main energy sources available on the current market for domestic heating, with data from the first half of 2024 to help consumers make informed decisions.

The Spanish Biomass Association, AVEBIOM, publishes a price comparison between the main energy sources available on the current market for domestic heating, with data from the first half of 2024 to help consumers make informed decisions.

With energy prices experiencing significant fluctuations in recent years, European and Spanish consumers are faced with the need to choose the most suitable energy source to heat their homes. This choice should not be based solely on the current cost, but also on the stability of prices over time and the environmental impact of each option.

Data from EUROSTAT, IDAE, MINETUR and MIBGAS, and the biomass price indices (IPB) prepared by AVEBIOM have been used. quarterly since 2012 for wood pellet, splinter and olive pit.

Solid biofuels: renewable and economical heating

Solid biofuels such as wood pellets, olive bone and the wood chip They remain the most economical and sustainable options for heating in 2024: they offer a significantly lower cost than electricity and fossil fuels, and their price demonstrates greater stability over time.

Thus, in June 2024, the prices of bulk wood pellets and olive stones were below 7 c€/kWh, while wood chips remain the clearly cheaper option, with prices around 3 c€/kWh.

Solid biofuels were the most competitive option for heating in 2022 even at times when pellet and bone prices reached their lowest levels. maxima historical, contrary to the perception of some users. In fact, heating with natural gas in 2022 was 44% more expensive than heating with pellets, and heating with electric radiators, for example, cost three times as much as heating with pellets.

The Prices of solid biofuels to the final consumer began to decline already in December of 2022 and have continued to decline during 2023 and 2024, as reflected in the price index (IPB) prepared by AVEBIOM quarterly for pellets, chips and bones, and the ex Works index for ENplus® pellets in the factory, calculated monthly.

Electricity, the most expensive option

La electricity It remains one of the most expensive options for heating a home. Although prices fell slightly in 2023 and 2024 following the energy crisis of 2022, in June 2024 it stood at around 14 c€/kWh. Even considering its use with a bomba de calor, considering a realistic SCOP of 2,5 (seasonal coefficient of performance), heating with electricity marked the maximum of all technologies with 9,74 c€/kWh in June this year, as reflected in the graph.

Intermittent wind and solar generation and limited interconnection with other European markets are keeping prices high. Although electricity prices are likely to remain lower than their 2022 peaks in the coming months, volatility remains a risk, especially if demand grows faster than renewable generation capacity.

Natural gas and diesel C

As to gas natural, is the third most expensive option for heating in Spain. In June 2024, TUR2 (for contracts >5.000 kWh/year) is around 8,2 c€/kWh.

Although its price has experienced a notable drop in 2023 and 2024, after the historic peaks of 2022, due to the stabilization of the international energy market, the diversification of supply sources and the reduction in demand, it could rise again in the coming months if global demand recovers or if new geopolitical tensions arise. Thus, although at times it is positioned as a competitive option, consumers must be alert to possible fluctuations such as those that have already occurred in previous years.

At 9,18 c€/kWh in June 2024, the diesel C It is the most expensive energy source after the electric heat pump.

Although it is one of the most common options for heating in rural areas and in homes that do not have access to natural gas, its use continues to decline due to the growing adoption of more sustainable alternatives and volatility in fossil fuel market prices.

IPB download:

https://www.avebiom.org/proyectos/indice-precios-biomasa-al-consumidor

https://www.avebiom.org/proyectos/indice-precios-biomasa-ex-works

 

Download comparative graphs

https://observatoriobiomasa.es

https://es.statista.com/estadisticas/1034934/consumo-de-gasoleo-para-calefaccion-espana/

 

ENGIE, which will participate in Expobiomasa 2025, has signed an agreement with the multinational Viscofan to install a biomass boiler at its plant in Cáseda, Navarra. The project is a world pioneer as it will use forest biomass and residual cellulose casing for meat products as fuel.
The works to expand the heat transport pipeline network in Ponferrada, which began in June 2024 and are scheduled to be completed in April 2025, will be able to meet the demand of more than 2.800 homes and 43 tertiary buildings and will mean the shutdown of more than 100 fossil fuel chimneys in the city.

The works to expand the heat transport pipeline network in Ponferrada, which began in June 2024 and are scheduled to be completed in April 2025, will be able to meet the demand of more than 2.800 homes and 43 tertiary buildings and will mean the shutdown of more than 100 fossil fuel chimneys in the city.

The new infrastructure will have a renewable thermal energy production capacity of 32.000.000 kWh/year. The total budget required for the complete development of all parts of the project will be approximately 12,5 million euros.

Ponferrada's district heating is an important energy infrastructure that uses as fuel Renewable forest biomass (forest chips from forestry work in the mountains of Castilla y León)The network extends across the western part of the city to meet the heating and hot water demands of both public buildings and private buildings interested in connecting. Currently, 15 tertiary buildings are connected to the heating network: schools, institutes, heated swimming pools, the Rosaleda retirement home, etc.

The reduction in greenhouse gas emissions achieved with this important environmental project amounts to 8.300 tonnes of CO2/year. The associated job creation will be 12 stable jobs, both direct and indirect.

The building constructed for the generation plant has a constructed area of ​​1.029 m2 and is divided into four different areas. The heat generation area houses the installed biomass boiler with 4.500 KW of thermal power. This is a hot water boiler with mobile grate technology that uses forest biomass as fuel - mainly poplar, pine and oak - and has continuous combustion control to minimise emissions into the atmosphere. In addition, it has an advanced smoke filtering system consisting of a multi-cyclone and an electrofilter. The rest of the elements of the thermal energy production facility are also located within this area.

The heat generation plant in its current initial phase has a 4,5 MW boiler, and will be expanded in the future with two more boilers, which in its final phase will reach 18,5 MW of thermal power.

The construction works for the first phase of the renewable thermal energy generation plant and the heat transport pipeline network have been completed and have been in operation since December 2023. In the fourth quarter of 2024, the works for the extension of the generation plant for the installation of the second biomass boiler will be put out to tender.

The objectives are:

  • To provide an urban service for the centralised supply of thermal energy to which both public and private buildings can be added, thereby achieving important synergies at all levels.
  • Replacing the use of fossil fuels with renewable, sustainable and indigenous energy (biomass) that contributes to generating employment in rural areas, reduces the energy dependence of the region and contributes to the prevention of forest fires in our autonomous community.

The advantages for future users:

  • Absence of own heat production equipment, fuels and chimneys (0 breakdowns, 0 replacements, 0 combustion risks, 0 noise and vibrations, 0 maintenance costs)
  • Savings on energy bills (between 20 and 40%)
  • Reduction in boiler maintenance and replacement costs
  • Improving the energy rating of buildings by using a renewable energy source
  • Permanent technological updating
  • Greater guarantee, stability and security in energy supply

Heat networks in Castile and Leon

For more than a decade, the Junta de Castilla y León has been developing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects through its Public Company for Infrastructure and Environment of Castilla y León (SOMACYL).

The systems built have required an investment of €36 million, and include, among others, the heating network of the University of Valladolid and the industrial heating network of the Villalonquéjar Industrial Estate in Burgos.

In the coming years, SOMACYL plans to invest around €150 million in new renewable energy projects.

In addition, SOMACYL participates in various companies that have developed biomass electricity generation projects in the Community, including the Cubillos del Sil generation plant in León, with an investment of €120 million, and the Garray plant in Soria, with an investment of €50 million.

Full news in RETEMA

 

• Spain is the third country in Europe with the largest forest area and the ninth in the use of its resources. • The Spanish Association of Stove, Kitchen and Fireplace Manufacturers (AEFECC) highlights the importance of good sustainable management of forests in order to prevent fires.

• Spain is the third country in Europe with the largest forest area and the ninth in the use of its resources.

• The Spanish Association of Stove, Kitchen and Fireplace Manufacturers (AEFECC) highlights the importance of good sustainable management of forests in order to prevent fires.

Compared to recent years, Spain is not suffering major forest fires. However, according to forest fire statistics in Spain, an average of 17.000 forest fires occur, affecting around 114.000ha of forest area.

Of them, according to the records of the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Emergencies: an annual average of 80 forest fires have consequences on the population, mainly due to preventive evacuations, but we must also regret deaths, injuries, and cuts to communication routes. and services, damaged infrastructure.

Through the extraction of excess biomass, in addition to balancing the ecosystem, fires can be avoided by using said material as a source of clean, sustainable and low-cost energy. The potential of this forest mass as a source of thermal energy is very high and is the best alternative to fossil fuels.

The cleaning of forests and the reuse of forest surplus are part of the secret of the countries with the largest forest area in our environment so that large fires are not as devastating as they are in our country, where 41% of the burned area corresponds to only 0,2% of claims.

The World Environment Forum (WWF) assures that the time to put out a fire is 20 years before, through the restoration, preparation and care of forests.

THE THIRD EUROPEAN COUNTRY WITH THE MOST FORESTS

Spain is the third country with the largest forest area in Europe, but the ninth in use of these resources. It only takes advantage of a third of the remaining forest mass. The rest, 63% of this surplus, remains in the forests, exposed, in most cases, to fires.

We are precisely one of the countries with the highest rate of fires in the European Union, with summer being the time of highest incidence.

Although some of them originate naturally, caused by lightning, about 80% of fires, according to Greenpeace, are caused by humans.

Agricultural burning, to obtain grass, smokers, machines and engines, bonfires, acts of vandalism, among others, are some of the reasons why fire devastates thousands of hectares in our country every year.

“Reducing the amount of biomass accumulated in forest areas by collecting firewood or branches would favor the regulation and functioning of the ecosystem, preventing the uncontrolled spread of fires, since there is less material susceptible to burning,” says Carlos Oliván, president of AEFECC.

USE TO SAVE ENERGY

AEFECC estimates that increasing the percentage of single-family homes with biomass heating systems by only 18% (almost 1,4 million homes) would mean not only savings of almost 500 million euros annually and great progress towards achieving environmental objectives for greenhouse gas emissions but rather a reduction in energy dependence.

The use of biomass as a heating system contributes to reducing pollution, since the emissions generated by its combustion are offset by the absorption of CO2 during its life cycle.

On the other hand, firewood, compared to any other fuel, does not require industrial transformation processes, so its ecological footprint is completely clean.

Furthermore, biomass generates 135 jobs per 10.000 inhabitants in rural environments and contributes to the cleaning of forests and the maintenance of the forest area of ​​our country.

AEFECC is an ally of EXPOBIOMASA

Further information: www.aefecc.es

A team of researchers from Pontevedra is carrying out tests on the pyrolization of forest and agricultural remains to obtain biochar, a carbonaceous material that can be used as a soil amendment and improve its fertility and structure and contribute to carbon capture among other uses.

A team of researchers from Pontevedra is carrying out pyrolization tests on forest and agricultural remains to obtain biochar, carbonaceous material that can be used as a soil amendment and improve its fertility and structure and contribute to carbon capture among other uses.

The project, promoted by Luis Ortiz, Antonio Vázquez, Juan Luis Rodríguez Somoza and Óscar González Prieto from the Energy Technology Research Group of the University of Vigo, aims to offer a viable option for the sustainable management of forest remains and reduce the risk of fires forestry, a recurring problem in the region.

A pyrolytic oven was used to carry out the tests. of own design based on a double grid system previously patented by Ortiz. From the tests carried out with three materials, a high quality biochar has been obtained with a fixed carbon concentration between 76% and 78%.

Pyrolysis takes place inside the oven, a thermal decomposition process in the absence of oxygen that allows biomass to be converted into biochar without generating emissions. The device uses forest remains to generate heat and, in another version, uses butane gas for more precise control of the temperature in the rector.

The biochar obtained contributes to mitigating climate change by sequestering carbon and, if available on the ground, improves soil quality, increasing its capacity to retain water and nutrients.

In addition, the possibility of using biochar is being explored in applications that require materials with high buoyancy and absorbent properties, similar to those of activated carbon. This opens opportunities to develop filters capable of trapping heavy metals and liquid contaminants.

The production of biochar offers another solution to sustainably manage forest and agricultural remains and can generate new economic opportunities in rural areas.

The next edition of Expobiomasa, the reference fair for the biomass sector in Spain held in Valladolid, from May 6 to 8, 2025, will dedicate an exclusive space to this technology.

Source: https://pontevedraviva.com/xeral/106056/horno-pirolitico-disenado-pontevedra-transforma-restos-forestales-biochar/

 

 

 

The sector associations AVEBIOM and APROPELLETS, which give support and voice to more than 250 companies related to the value chain of energy generation with biomass in Spain, regret the end of the reduced VAT of 10% for pellets and firewood, which it has returned to 21% since July 1.

The sector associations AVEBIOM and APROPELLETS, which give support and voice to more than 250 companies related to the value chain of energy generation with biomass in Spain, regret the end of the reduced VAT of 10% for pellets and firewood, which it has returned to 21% since July 1.

Both associations propose that a definitive reduction of VAT on all solid biofuels of national origin, which include pellets, firewood, olive pits, chips and nut shells, to accelerate the adoption of renewable, sustainable and local technologies for heating.

On June 30, the Royal Decree that temporarily maintained a reduced VAT of 10% for pellets and firewood expired. Both the Spanish Biomass Association (AVEBIOM) and the Spanish Association for the Promotion of the Pellet Sector (APROPELLETS) believe that greater commitment and support on the part of the government is necessary towards the generation of energy with biomass as a valuable option in the transition towards a more sustainable energy system.

In Europe there is a reduced VAT for solid biofuels

France, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Belgium, the Baltic countries and others have maintained a reduced VAT for biofuels from solid biomass for years. This represents a measure of real long-term support against fossil fuels and is part of energy policies that promote the transition towards more sustainable solutions.

In Spain, solid biofuels do not have fiscal support and promotion measures differentiated from fossil energy supplies. Compared to the energy policies of neighboring countries, with short-term plans and objectives for the abandonment of fossil fuels for heating, in Spain, heating oil and natural gas have support measures such as tax reductions or with a policy of regulated tariffs that represent a hidden subsidy to these sectors, and that encourage the consumption of fossil fuels.

The government should take as a sign of alarm and failure of its energy policies, the increase in heating oil consumption during 2023 and so far in 2024. Years in which the weather, far from promoting the demand for heating, has reduced.

Solid biofuels are a competitive option, offering savings in domestic heating costs that can vary between 10% and 70% compared to heating oil, natural gas and electrical systems.

Although biomass prices increased due to known factors, reducing savings to a certain extent, solid biofuels remain an attractive alternative. With greater institutional support and better dissemination of information, these biofuels can regain and potentially increase their popularity among consumers.

pellet price VAT

In support of a local rural sector

Fiscal support for solid biofuels not only benefits bioenergy companies and consumers, but also boosts the supporting agricultural and forestry sectors in a perfect example of a circular bioeconomy. In these areas, the energy recovery of waste and by-products can be essential to maintain the viability of the activity. Thus, a reduced VAT would benefit thousands of companies and workers in rural areas, strengthening the local economy and promoting sustainable use of resources.

For a green and circular economy at a low cost

A reduced VAT of 10% for solid biofuels would bring multiple benefits. Although we understand that the government, in the midst of a fiscal policy that seeks to balance its accounts, is assessing the cost that this measure would imply, we consider that the advantages far outweigh the concerns.

With the estimated prices and consumption of solid biofuels at the domestic level, the reduction in income would be less than 100 million euros, but the possible increase in collection due to the increase in consumption and other tax revenues that would also have to be taken into account. could be obtained by other means from the sector.

From AVEBIOM and APROPELLETS we call on the government to reconsider the implementation of a reduced VAT for solid biofuels, the equipment in which they are used and the energy generated in biomass heat networks.

This measure would facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable energy system, would contribute to creating and maintaining employment in rural areas, would allow consumers to save on their energy bills, and would establish itself as a pillar in the fight against climate change by reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.

 

The latest statistical report on the wood pellet market in Europe, published by the European bioenergy association, Bioenergy Europe, offers the information necessary to understand its recent evolution, the factors that have influenced consumption and production, and the financial implications. underlying...

The latest statistical report on the wood pellet market in Europe, published by the European bioenergy association, Bioenergy Europe, offers the information necessary to understand its recent evolution, the factors that have influenced consumption and production, and the financial implications. underlying...

Wood pellets are an essential component within the technologies offered by bioenergy. Thanks to their high energy density and their uniformity demonstrated thanks to certifications, they have become a competitive energy source that is also contributing to meeting the climate and energy objectives of the European Union.

Production and consumption of pellets in the EU

In 2023, pellet production in the EU reached 20,7 million tonnes, while consumption amounted to 21,9 million tonnes, reflecting a slight deficit covered by imports from reliable partners such as the United States and Brazil. The EU continues to lead both in global production and consumption of pellets, despite the interruption of imports from Russia due to sanctions imposed in 2022.

The wood pellet market in Europe has shown a remarkable capacity to adapt to disruptions that had not been previously known. While industrial consumption has temporarily decreased due to fluctuating prices, residential and commercial use has remained solid.

Reduces industrial pellet consumption

Total pellet consumption in Europe (EU-27 + UK) decreased for the first time in two decades, going from 32,1 million tonnes in 2022 to 30,1 million tonnes in 2023. This contraction is mainly attributed to volatility in the prices of industrial pellets caused by the energy crisis resulting from the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Although prices have stabilized, they are still higher than the historical average, affecting the profitability of the use of pellets for electricity production.

Stability in the residential pellet market

In contrast, the pellet market for the residential and service sectors has shown notable stability. In 2023, residential and commercial consumption represented 59% of the total, the highest percentage in a decade. This relative increase is due to a significant decrease in industrial consumption, especially in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, where consumption fell by approximately 900,000 tons.

Winter 2023-2024 was characterized by a marked decrease in heating degree days (a unit used to measure the level of winter severity) with reductions of 10% in Spain, 15% in Belgium and almost 22% in Austria. It is notable to note that this trend of lower heating demand due to milder winters has not negatively impacted residential pellet consumption, which indicates the resilience of the residential market in the face of climate variations.

Quality certification ensures consumer confidence

The quality certification of ENplus® biofuel has been key in the consolidation of the pellet market. This certification scheme ensures quality from the factory to the final consumer, which is beneficial both to users, who obtain an efficient biofuel, which reduces emissions and prolongs the useful life of heating equipment, and to the environment.

Continuing to ensure the sustainability and quality of the product is vital for the pellet market to continue growing in the future and contributing to a cleaner and more efficient energy system.

Some recommendations for policies that favor the pellet market

To encourage sustained growth of the pellet market and maximize its contribution to the EU's energy and climate goals, Bioenergy Europe recommends that, when implementing the European Green Deal and the Anti-Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), administrative burdens be minimized; It also considers it necessary that support for the renewal of heating systems with renewable technologies includes pellet equipment; and that progress is made in the recognition that the use of pellets in the industry together with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) are vital to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Fountain. Bioenergy Europe Statistics

https://bioenergyeurope.org/statistical-reports/

 

 

Hamerkop Climate Impacts and the International Biochar Initiative publish the “Biochar Carbon Removal Handbook”, a comprehensive guide for investors, producers and other parties interested in harnessing the potential of biochar as a sustainable carbon sink.

Hamerkop Climate Impacts and the International Biochar Initiative publish the “Biochar Carbon Removal Handbook”, a comprehensive guide for investors, producers and other parties interested in harnessing the potential of biochar as a sustainable carbon sink.

Biochar is a carbon-rich material obtained from the pyrolysis of organic matter that is gaining recognition for its potential for carbon capture and climate change mitigation. The manual offers a guide to navigate the complexities of biochar certification as a carbon removal tool, its role in the carbon market, variability in production, project design and certification processes.

The carbon market

Biochar can play a leading role in the voluntary carbon market by offering a reliable method for long-term carbon capture. In fact, already in 2023, biochar accounted for 94% of long-term carbon removal credits. The carbon market is an incentive for new biochar projects, allowing them to monetize their carbon capture efforts through the sale of credits. A financial incentive that will promote the growth of the industry with the socio-environmental benefits that it entails, especially in regions where biomass is used and in those that will receive biochar in their soils.

The carbon capture potential of biochar varies significantly depending on the source materials and production methods used. Source materials can range from agricultural waste to forestry waste, each of which affects the carbon content of biochar and co-products such as bio-oil and syngas. Production technologies, from small-scale furnaces to industrial pyrolysis plants, also influence biochar characteristics and production costs.

The manual provides a basic outline for successfully carrying out a biochar project; from how to determine the scale of production from mapping available resources and stakeholders, to selecting the appropriate source material, considering its availability, processing requirements and sustainability. Deciding on the technology and location of the facility are important steps, as is identifying the end use of the biochar, ensuring it provides long-term carbon storage and is integrated into a circular economy, and valuing the co-products that can be generated.

Finally, a section is dedicated to certification; how to select the most appropriate certification standard for the project that quantifies and validates the eliminations achieved.

Certification Standards

There are several certification standards that provide methodologies to quantify and verify the carbon removal capabilities of biochar.

Each standard has developed specific requirements for source materials, production technology, carbon accounting and monitoring.

  • Pure.earth. First standard for biochar carbon credits, offering a methodology to quantify carbon removal from biochar.
  • Carbon Standards International (CSI). It provides two methodologies: Global Biochar C-Sink and Global Artisan C-Sink, aimed at different production scales.
  • Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). Managed by Verra, it includes the VM0044 methodology for the use of biochar.
  • Climate Action Reserve (CAR). Targeted at projects in North America with the biochar protocol for the US and Canada.
  • Riverse. It focuses on large-scale projects in Europe with its BECCS & biochar methodology.

The next edition of EXPOBIOMASA will dedicate a prominent space to the capture and storage of biogenic carbon, including biochar, a technology that is already being promoted by companies in Spain.

Learn more

https://biochar-international.org/manual-for-biochar-carbon-removal/

On June 30, 2024, the first contracting period ends with advantageous conditions for companies interested in participating in Expobiomasa 2025. Less than 15 days after the end of the initial period, the event already has a notable participation of leading companies in the sector. of biomass.

On June 30, 2024, the first contracting period ends with advantageous conditions for companies interested in participating in Expobiomasa 2025. Less than 15 days after the end of the initial period, the event already has a notable participation of leading companies in the sector. of biomass.

Expobiomasa 2025, which will be held from May 6 to 8 at Feria de Valladolid, will be the most important professional event next year in the biomass sector and will bring together the main agents of the entire value chain from equipment manufacturers and distributors domestic heating systems with solid biofuels to promoters of large projects in the thermal and electrical fields and, for the first time, emerging sectors such as carbon capture and storage and the bioeconomy.

The 2025 edition will highlight the latest advances in energy efficiency and emissions elimination, in line with the EU's carbon footprint reduction targets.

Companies interested in being part of the reference event in the Iberian Peninsula can secure their space in advance and benefit from the advantages that the fair offers to early risers: until June 30, exhibitors can benefit from 20% (+ 10 Additional % discount for Avebiom members) discount on space rental.

Expobiomasa 2025 will the perfect platform for exhibitors and participating brands to increase their visibility and show their innovative products and services to thousands of professional visitors from all over the world over the three days of the fair. We design an environment conducive to establishing contacts with potential business partners and distributors, and even end customers.

In the month of May 2024, the Spanish Biomass Association has carried out a comparative analysis of the prices of different solid biofuels such as ENplus® certified pellets, wood chips and olive pits and other energy sources available in Spain, and its behavior over the last 10 years.

In the month of May 2024, the Spanish Biomass Association has carried out a comparative analysis of the prices of different solid biofuels such as ENplus® certified pellets, wood chips and olive pits and other energy sources available in Spain, and its behavior over the last 10 years.

To do this, data from EUROSTAT, IDAE, MINETUR and MIBGAS have been used, and the biomass price indices (IPB) prepared by AVEBIOM quarterly since 2012 for wood pellet, splinter and olive pit.

A comparison to make informed decisions

In a context of constant fluctuations in energy prices, Spanish consumers may encounter reasonable doubts when deciding which energy source best suits their needs and budget. Choosing the most appropriate energy source to heat our homes requires considering both the average cost per kWh and the stability of prices over time.

Paul Rodero, president of the European Pellet Council and responsible for certification at AVEBIOM, recommends to the consumer "seriously consider biomass as a source of energy for heating your home because, in addition to being an economical and stable option, it contributes significantly to environmental sustainability.”

Electricity, natural gas and C diesel, at the high end of prices

The price of the electricity for average consumption (2500 - 5000 kWh) is significantly higher than that of the rest of the energy sources, with a sustained increase over time and a significant peak of €30,71 cent/kWh in June 2022. Even when used to power a bomba de calor, and considering a realistic SCOP for the center of the peninsula of 2,5, it is located in the range of the highest prices for domestic heating, as the graph shows.

El gas natural offers various rates to meet the different needs of consumers. Both the TUR2, for consumption greater than 5000 kWh/year, and the TUR1, for lower consumption, have shown a general upward trend, with a maximum price of €18,55 cent/kWh for the TUR2 in December 2022. Considerable fluctuations over time, with large spikes and dips, especially in the last two years, can complicate cost planning for consumers.

As to diesel C, an option commonly used for heating in cold regions, has been losing market share in the last decade. The notable variability in prices over time, reflecting the uncertainty in fossil fuel markets, and the penetration of more sustainable alternatives for heating may be behind this situation. The average price at the end of 2023 was close to €10 cent/kWh, in line with the electric heat pump and natural gas.

Solid biofuels: the sustainable and economical alternative

The prices of energy for heating obtained from biomass, represented by pellets and wood chips and olive stones, are below those of electricity and fossil fuels.

The pellet distributed in tanks, with a price of €7,72 cent/kWh at the end of 2023, maintains a clear downward trend and, according to the IPB factory forecast for June 2024, is already close to the prices of the first quarter of 2022, at the beginning of the global energy crisis. Regardless of this exceptional circumstance, pellets have demonstrated great price stability since they entered the home heating market. With an average price of €5,71 cent/kWh and a very low deviation (0,14).

The same can be said for the olive pit distributed in tanks, with a price of 7.59 cent€/kWh in December 2023, it is gradually returning to normal. With 2,99 cent€/kWh at the end of 2023, Wood chips are the most stable solid biofuel that can be used for domestic heating.

IPB download:

https://www.avebiom.org/proyectos/indice-precios-biomasa-al-consumidor

Download comparative graphs

https://observatoriobiomasa.es

 

The six projects that use biomass to reduce CO2 emissions in energy-intensive industries stand out. They will receive 55 million euros, 57% of the budget allocation.

The six projects that use biomass to reduce CO2 emissions in energy-intensive industries stand out. They will receive 55 million euros, 57% of the budget allocation.

The García-Carrión Winery Group, through VILLANUEVA BIOTHERMAL (BIOVI), will receive 2,7 million euros to build a biomass plant to generate thermal energy in Gádor, Almería, which will replace natural gas, reducing CO2 emissions by 7.000 tons per year.

The energy services company ENSO ESCO, AVEBIOM associate, has been subsidized with 20 million euros to build a biomass cogeneration plant in Olmedo, Valladolid, which will replace natural gas and cover all the energy needs of the largest sugar company in Spain, COOPERATIVA ACOR, and which will avoid the emission of 70.000 tons of CO2 annually.

In addition, ENSO ESCO will receive 30 million euros for another project in Torrelavega, Cantabria, in which the chemical company SOLVAY will house the largest biomass cogeneration plant in Spain, reducing more than 300.000 tons of CO2 per year.

The company CEMEX, dedicated to the manufacture and supply of cement and other construction materials, will obtain 5,8 million euros to increase the use of biomass instead of fossil fuels in the production of Clinker at its plants in Alcanar, Tarragona, and Morata de Jalón, Zaragoza.

ENCE ENERGY EXTREMADURA will receive 4,3 million to build a biomass plant that will produce superheated water and hot water and will drastically reduce the operation of the current natural gas facility.

Finally, FERROGLOBE SPAIN METALS has secured 11,7 million euros to install a vertical electric biochar reactor, which will replace fossil coal with vegetable coal in its process of obtaining silicon.

These projects will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, in addition, by promoting the use of local and renewable resources, they promote economic development in rural areas.

Source

https://www.mintur.gob.es/es-es/GabinetePrensa/NotasPrensa/2024/Paginas/jordi-hereu-aprobacion-provisional-perte-descarbonizacion.aspx

Member States and the European Parliament have provisionally approved the Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF). This new framework, which is expected to be formally adopted and published by the end of 2024, is a key piece in the EU's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase carbon removal activities.

Member States and the European Parliament have provisionally approved the Carbon Removals Certification Framework (CRCF). This new framework, which is expected to be formally adopted and published by the end of 2024, is a key piece in the EU's strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase carbon removal activities.

Achieve climate neutrality by 2050

The CRCF aims to facilitate the implementation of carbon removal activities within the EU. It establishes quality criteria, rules for verification and certification, and standards for the operation of certification schemes and their recognition by the European Commission. Although the framework will be voluntary, it is expected to establish a general rule for carbon removal across the EU.

The framework covers three main categories of activities: permanent carbon removals, carbon farming or carbon farming, and carbon storage in products.

Permanent carbon removals include industrial technologies that capture carbon, such as BECCS, and store it safely for centuries. Carbon farming encompasses practices in agricultural lands, wetlands, forests and coastal environments that sequester carbon through biological processes, also generating benefits for biodiversity. Carbon storage in products involves capturing and storing carbon in durable products such as wood building elements and biobased insulation materials.

These activities can generate four types of certified units: permanent carbon removal units, agricultural carbon sequestration units, soil emissions reduction units, and product carbon storage units. To be certified, activities must meet four main criteria: quantification, additionality, long-term storage and sustainability.

Implications for the bioenergy sector

Bioenergy Europe has actively worked to ensure that the CRCF does not impose additional requirements for sustainable bioenergy production and that it includes a broad definition of carbon removal, including biochar. The CRCF may open new opportunities for biomass-using industries, which could now develop carbon removal technologies or products for long-term carbon storage.

Consult the report prepared by Bioenergy Europe on this matter (in Spanish)

https://www.avebiom.org/sites/default/files/2024-05/Marco-eliminaciones-carbono-UE-2024.pdf

What will the certification process be like?

The certification process includes participation in a certification scheme, certification and recertification audits, and maintenance of certification records. The European Commission will develop specific certification methodologies for various carbon removal activities through delegated acts.

The Commission will establish an EU register within four years of the entry into force of the Regulation. Furthermore, the CRCF will be reviewed regularly to ensure its alignment with EU legislation and international agreements, assessing technological and scientific progress, environmental impacts and food safety.

The agreement on the CRCF is aligned with the EU's climate and circular economy objectives. By providing a transparent and reliable governance framework for carbon removal activities, the EU is laying the foundations for a more sustainable and resilient future.

Carbon removals at Expobiomasa 2025

EXPOBIOMASA 2025 will dedicate a special space to the discussion and analysis of the opportunities that are opening up for the bioenergy sector and other industries related to carbon removal.

Experts, companies and institutions will have the opportunity to explore in depth the opportunities and challenges associated with this new field of activity and exchange knowledge, present technological advances and discuss best practices to remove carbon according to the CRCF.