Spain going to sell some connections to the European Union that are crucial bioenergy. They are leading the growth of solid biofuels in the world EU and were used for heating. This type of energy participates in the energy mix and we are going to explain why. When we talk about ‘bioenergy’, we mean a type of energy that results from the transformation of biomass.
That is, an organic material that can be used to produce heat, electricity and fuel. It has incredible potential, as it offers the possibility of using different types of organic waste to convert it into profitable and sustainable energy.
In addition, it is of great importance in the energy transition, because it is virtually neutral energy in terms of CO2 emissions and makes the circular economy possible thanks to the reuse of resources.
This time we will focus on wood pellets, which are leading the rise of solid biofuels in the world European Union. The use of solid biofuels in all their forms has increased over the past twenty years. Its consumption UE According to the 2023 solid biofuel barometer, this is practically double the amount recorded in the year 2000. EurObserv’ER.
Wood pellets have been one of the main drivers of this progress at the domestic and industrial level.
These important bioenergy compounds have changed their position in the EU
According to the aforementioned research, biofuels are used as a reference point for electricity generation EU was 87.6 terawatt hours (TWh) and the heat consumption from solid biofuels was 81.4 Mtoe (tonnes of oil equivalent).
The report states that the use of these solid biofuels in all their forms has increased over the past twenty years. Its consumption is double that of 2000 (53.6 Mtoe in 2000, 89.3 Mtoe in 2010 and Mtoe in 2022).
Solid biofuels can take different forms: from round wood to wood pellets, wood waste and by-products, waste, plant waste and other renewable industrial waste.
The study estimates that the production of inputs from European soil in 2022 was approximately 98 Mtoe. A figure that represents an annual decline of 2.8% compared to 2021, the year in which production in the European Union fell to 2.8 Mtoe.
However, the production of wood pellets from the EU is growing and has already changed its numbers from 19.8 million tons in 2021 to 20.4 million tons in 2022 (3.2% more). On the other hand, production capacity increased from 25.65 to 27 million tons.
The analysis shows that this increase has been encouraged by the opening of 63 new centres. “The lower growth in production compared to production capacity can be explained by the sharp increase in production costs due to increases in energy prices.”
“And also to the reduction in the supply of Russian and Belarusian wood (as a result of the European embargo) intended for processing into wood pellets on the territory of the European Union,” they report.
Bioenergy-related connections are crucial in the EU
On the other hand, there is a net import of solid biofuels (wood and wood pellets). EU low and even below 2021 levels (3.7 Mtoe in 2021 and 2.3 Mtoe in 2022), originating in countries that were part of the European Union j North America.
The drop in imports in 2022 is related to the Russian and Belarusian embargo on wood pellets, in addition to European legislation on the sustainability of biomass, which is gradually entering and affecting certain supply flows outside the EU. UEespecially of North America.
As for consumption, this one connections linked to the bioenergy – and which should not be confused with the substances that cause so much damage to some coasts of our country – have been one of the main drivers of the energy growth of solid biofuels in the EU. The domestic and commercial sectors account for 56% of the city’s consumption. UE in 2022 (compared to 51% in 2021). As you can see, the same thing you use in heating has an even better application.