Consumption of solid biomass in the EU grows by 2,2% and passes the 100 Mtoe mark in 2019

The year 2019 was marked by a more significant growth in the consumption of solid biomass energy. According to EurObserv'ER, in the EU-28 countries, it reached 102,6 Mtoe in 2019, i.e. a growth of 2,2%.

Main findings from EurObserv'ER's 2020 solid biomass barometer

Solid biomass is a generic term for all solid organic components used as fuel. This includes wood, wood industry by-products (shavings, sawdust, etc.), wood pellets, black liquors from the paper industry, straw, bagasse, animal waste or residues. solid plants. Energy from solid biomass is mainly used to produce heat and electricity. Their consumption increased by 2,2% in 2019, reaching 102,6 Mtoe in the EU28.

This increase is attributable both to the increase in electricity production in several Member States, as well as to a 1,2% increase in heat consumption. Consumption increased in the top eight solid biomass consuming countries. The highest are attributed to the United Kingdom (509 ktep), the Netherlands (354 ktep), Poland (320 ktep), Sweden (272 ktep), the Czech Republic (267 ktep), the 'Germany (131 ktep) and Finland (12 ktep).

Growth observed in all valuations

Electricity production from biomass in the European Union 28 is estimated at 106 TWh in 2019, an increase of 5,8% (5,8 TWh) in one year. The quantity of heat sold to district heating networks increased by more than half a million toe to reach 11,5 Mtoe in 2019 in the EU28, mainly thanks to the commissioning of new cogeneration plants in the Netherlands and in France as well as a resumption of activity in this sector in Finland and Denmark. Finally, the consumption of wood pellets in the EU28 in 2019 continued to increase, reaching 27,7 million tones (Mt), i.e. 1,8 Mt more than in 2018 (+ 6,8%) .

Key figures for the solid biomass sector in the EU in 2019

102,6 Mtoe Primary energy consumption from solid biomass in the EU in 2019 (100,4 in 2018)
11,5 Mtoe Heat production from solid biomass in the EU in 2019 (11 Mtoe in 2018)
106,0 TWh Electricity generation from solid biomass in 2019 (100,2 TWh in 2018)
27,7 Mt Consumption of wood pellets of the EU28 in 2019 (25,9 Mt in 2018)

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