Pablo Rodero Masdemont comments on the state of the pellet market and the role of the certification
Pablo Rodero Masdemont is the president of the European Pellet Council for a few years now and is also part of the team of the Spanish biomass association AVEBIOM (an ENplus® national licenser). We had the opportunity to ask him several important questions about the pellet market in the beginning of the heating season.
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The new heating season in Europe has begun. What can we expect from it?
Following three relatively mild winters, prices and demand have remained stable and stocks have been replenished. Demand has been somewhat weak, so we anticipate a steady heating season in terms of both supply and pricing. Sales of wood pellets are highly influenced by weather patterns, and we are recovering from the price crisis of 2022, which was caused by exceptional demand resulting from the shortage of raw materials linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Unfortunately, this stability may be ‘the calm before the storm’, as new medium-term disruptions are on the horizon. Industrial markets such as the UK and the Netherlands may face less favourable feed-in tariffs by late 2026 or early 2027. This could push some industrial pellet producers to redirect their output towards the premium pellet segment. However, we are confident that the market will adapt.
Trends in appliance sales vary greatly depending on national policies. In countries with consistent public incentives, such as Austria and Poland, sales of pellet boilers and stoves are rebounding quickly. Meanwhile, in markets affected by regulatory uncertainty, such as Germany and France, consumers remain cautious. Overall, the European pellet market is stable and continues to play a vital role in the defossilisation of heating.
What advice would you give to end users? What is the best way to prepare for winter if you plan to heat your home with pellets?
My advice is simple: buy ENplus® certified pellets and plan your purchase well in advance. The certification guarantees not only the quality of the fuel but also transparency and traceability throughout the entire supply chain. Using certified pellets ensures higher efficiency, low maintenance costs, and clean combustion.
It is also advisable to check your heating system before the start of the season. This involves cleaning the chimney, ensuring the boiler or stove is properly tuned, and storing the pellets in a dry, well-ventilated area. These small preventive actions can have a significant impact on safety, comfort and performance.
As a representative of AVEBIOM, would you be willing to share some news from the Spanish market?
Production and consumption are very balanced, with production adapting accordingly whenever there is a change in consumption. In 2024, production reached around 604,000 tonnes (about 20% less than the 757,000 tonnes produced in 2023), with 65 active factories. Around 85% of this production is ENplus® certified.
Production has shifted significantly in response to fluctuating consumption. In 2023, production increased due to higher demand, driven by the raw material crisis, increased stove installations and imports. However, national consumption ultimately remained low due to mild winters. Consequently, excess production remained unsold and was carried over into 2024, resulting in a sharp reduction in production that year. Thanks to a relatively cold and long winter from late 2024 to early 2025, stocks decreased and production for 2025 is expected to rise.
Prices remain competitive compared with fossil alternatives, which explains why demand continues to grow steadily among households and district heating networks.
In 2025, AVEBIOM´s focus was on public awareness campaigns. One such campaign, “Biomasa en tu casa”, highlights the benefits of certified solid biofuels and their role in reducing emissions and strengthening local economies. We are also continuing to expand the use of sustainable solid biofuels certified under the SURE scheme for public and industrial heating purposes.
In terms of events, we recently hosted a new edition of Expobiomasa, one of the largest bioenergy fairs in Europe. More recently still, we hosted the ‘Salón del Gas Renovable’ (Renewable Gas Show) alongside the International Bioenergy Congress, uniting most of Spain’s bioenergy sector.
ENplus® is celebrating its 15 anniversary in 2025! How has the ENplus® certification evolved over the years in your opinion, and what impact has it had on consumer trust and on the European market in general?
ENplus® has transformed the pellet market. Fifteen years ago, there was no common quality standard and pellets differed greatly depending on their origin and supplier. ENplus® has had a huge impact on the professionalisation of the sector and has established wood pellets as a true commodity.
European companies made a major leap forward thanks to quality management systems. ENplus® provided training, guidelines for storage and transport, self-inspections, complaint management and more, essentially giving producers and traders a structured way of working.
The scheme has continued to evolve, recently reinforcing anti-fraud measures, digitising processes and improving training for producers and inspection bodies. Most importantly, ENplus® has become a genuine symbol of trust and professionalism. Consumers recognise the label and associate it with consistent quality and reliability. Today, ENplus® is practically a ‘must’ for anyone wanting to sell premium-grade pellets because consumers actively look for it.
Looking ahead, the EPC’s goal is to continue strengthening governance, boosting digital traceability and expanding international cooperation. ENplus® will continue to be a vital instrument in decarbonising heating and ensuring that pellet energy remains affordable and of a high standard.