Cristina Lucesole from BEA Institut für Bioenergie with important advice for the applying companies
It is always great to talk about the certification with the Certification Bodies who have the main responsibility in the certification process. Our guest today is Cristina Lucesole from BEA Institut für Bioenergie who has some important observations and advice for companies applying for certification.
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Dear Cristina, please introduce yourself. Tell us about your experience in the certification world and your job at BEA Institut für Bioenergie GmbH.
After my university studies, driven by interest in biofuels and environmental sustainability, I have started working for BEA Institut für Bioenergie GmbH. At first, I have started working in our laboratory, where we test different types of solid biofuels. This has allowed me to improve my knowledge of the properties of wood materials, especially wood pellets. After some months, I started to work in the ENplus® certification area and carry out inspections, which is now my main job.
Is it difficult for a pellet producer or a pellet trader to become ENplus® certified? What are the biggest challenges?
If the company willing to be ENplus® certified considers the pellets quality as a priority, it is not difficult to be part of the certification scheme. This means being familiar with the ENplus® requirements, frequently checking the quality of the product and having qualified personnel who can take actions in case something goes wrong.
The biggest challenge for producers is to constantly find high quality raw material in sufficient quantities to be able to always have a product complying with the ENplus® standards. Generally, for traders it is easier to comply with the scheme, as they buy pellets from certified companies. Nevertheless, we have noticed that some companies find it difficult to meet the ENplus® requirements about small-scale delivery vehicles. This is because in certain countries, the national legislation is less strict so it can take some time to adapt, as trucks are a significant investment (at least for smaller traders) and it is not so easy to replace them quickly.
From which countries do you receive the most applications for certification? Have you noticed any particular trend in recent years?
We have clients from all over the world, but we mainly receive applications from Austria, the United Kingdom, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Latvia.
In the last two years, we have seen an increase in applications from Chile. Chilean companies are now interested in getting certified because one of the requirements for participation in public tenders is to have the ENplus® certificate.
What advice would you give to future applicants?
A general advice for new applicants is to contact one of the ENplus® Certification Bodies early enough to make sure that the certificate is issued by the time they want to start selling or trading certified pellets. This is because the whole certification process can take some months due to many factors.
For new producers who want to apply for ENplus® I would advise them to find reliable suppliers for the raw material and to store it properly. What I usually say to the clients is: “what goes in, goes out”, to make them understand how important the raw material is for a good end product.
From a personal point of view, do you have friends or relatives who use pellets at home? What can you tell us about their experience?
The friends of mine who use pellets to heat up their homes are very satisfied and, although this fuel has some disadvantages, they would recommend it. According to their experience, compared to gas and electricity, pellets allow you to save money, to use renewable energy and to have a homogeneous and pleasant heat in the house. On the other hand, it is necessary to put pellets into the tank on a daily basis (for small stoves), to remove the ashes, and you also need some space where to store the pellet bags.
On the other hand, if you compare pellets to wood logs, the advantage is that pellets have a higher calorific value and a lower ash content. This means less regular maintenance.
Another aspect that some friends of mine appreciate is that modern pellet stoves can be programmed to turn on and off, which is useful for having the house warm only when it is necessary, thus saving fuel.