Jean-Marc Jossart from Bioenergy Europe about the scheme’s success and challenges

The secretary general of Bioenergy Europe, Jean-Marc Jossart, has a lot to share when it comes to the story of the ENplus^®.In the interview below, he recalls the scheme’s early days, and reveals how the scheme became so important in the market today.

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What does it mean for Bioenergy Europe to stand behind ENplus^®’ international success after 15 years of growth and global recognition? What was the vision for the scheme back in the day, and how close is today’s reality to those early expectations?

After 15 years of operations, I am very proud of ENplus^®‘ achievements. I clearly remember when ENplus^® was first proposed to me back in 2010. DEPI developed a scheme in Germany partly due to low-quality imports that were detrimental to the functioning of heating equipment. As such a scheme could not work in isolation in a single country, we were asked to expand to other markets.

We started slowly and without any financing, relying instead on a small timeshare contribution from a colleague. At that time, it was unclear whether the project would continue. To kick-start the European dimension of the scheme, I wrote a European project proposal called PellCert. I invested a considerable amount of time in writing it, even missing my legal obligation to vote in Belgium the weekend before submission. The project was accepted, and this financing was crucial in supporting over ten pellet associations, enabling them to recruit staff, organise meetings and set up a website.

The scheme grew by 10% per year for more than 10 years, exceeding all expectations and driven by market demand. Traders were especially helpful in this regard, as they requested that pellet producers become certified in order to optimise pellet quality for their final clients. The market has become increasingly global, with more than 50 countries now participating in the scheme.

ENplus^® is truly a team effort. I am very grateful to all the colleagues who were committed to it, especially the directors, Gilles Gauthier and Elena Dumitru. Together with their teams, they had to overcome many difficulties, manage complicated partners, handle a great deal of administration, and face many other challenges. Without them, ENplus^® would no longer exist.

Despite several turbulent years in the pellet market, both companies and consumers have continued to place their trust in the certification. What challenges you see ahead and how will ENplus^® withstand these?

The market has certainly not had an easy ride over the last decade. One major shock was the war in Ukraine and the subsequent ban on Russian imports, despite gas continuing to flow. The price spike at the end of 2022 damaged the reputation of pellets among end users. Fortunately, however, the market was diversified enough to compensate, and we have since recovered.

There are still challenges ahead. With winters becoming milder due to climate change, overall consumption is reducing and creating challenges in stock management. While pellet producers are keen to minimise expensive stock, insufficient stock can lead to supply and price issues in the event of sudden higher demand during a colder period. Managing stocks remains problematic at this stage.

Another challenge lies in the legislation. The perception of bioenergy among European policymakers is not optimal. Bioenergy Europe is increasingly facing detrimental legislation for the sector relating to cascading principles, sustainability criteria, Ecodesign standards and Energy labelling, among others.

However, I remain optimistic. The price of pellets is generally competitive, depending on fluctuations in the price of fossil fuels and taxation policies in different countries. Electricity is expensive and will probably remain so due to the imbalance between supply and demand. Despite climate change, demand for heating remains high as deep renovation of buildings is progressing slowly. Thanks to ENplus^®, the quality of pellets is reliable enough to maintain consumer trust.

You are a pellet consumer yourself. Tell us about your experience with pellets (and is ENplus^® part of the features you are looking for when selecting a supplier 🙂  )? 

As a part-time farmer, I live in an old farm building that is not very well insulated. I have had a pellet boiler for central heating for almost 20 years, which is supplemented by a pellet stove in one room and a wood-burning stove in another. I am extremely satisfied. The automatic operation and remote control of the pellet systems are key advantages over wood logs, which inevitably create dirt in the room.

I buy both bulk and bagged pellets on the strict condition that they are ENplus^® certified. The delivery trucks are technically sound, but I am present at delivery to monitor the driver’s handling, as this can significantly affect the quality.

Thanks to my PV and solar heat panels, I am proud that my house has been carbon neutral for years, mainly thanks to bioenergy.

If you could send a message to the companies and consumers who have supported ENplus^® for 15 years, what would you say?

Many thanks to the companies that believe in the pellet industry and prioritise quality. By working together with the entire supply chain, from biomass producers to end consumers, we have created a renewable alternative to fossil fuels for heating which is widely available, convenient, reliable and cost-effective.

The ENplus^® team in Brussels is still very motivated to support and assist the pellet industry. I would therefore like to assure pellet companies and consumers that Bioenergy Europe will continue to strive for greater market stability and stronger EU institutional support for wood pellets.