Europe Biomass Pellets Market Forecast to 2030 - Regional Analysis - by Source (Agricultural Residue, Industrial Waste, Wood, and Others) and Application (Power Plants, Industrial Heating, Residential and Commercial Heating, and Others)

The Europe biomass pellets market is expected to grow from US$ 6,478.62 million in 2022 to US$ 9,488.43 million by 2030. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.9% from 2022 to 2030.

Adoption of Biomass Pellets for Animal Bedding Drive Europe Biomass Pellets Market

Biomass pellets are effective and convenient bedding materials that are used in animal bedding applications. Biomass pellets are made from compressed sawdust and other wood fibers, formed into cylindrical shapes with diameters ranging from 6 to 8 millimeters. Wood pellets have several characteristics, specifically high absorbency, attributed to low moisture content and dense composition. Further, wood pellets spread evenly over the animal bedding area, forming a cushion and absorbent layer. Biomass pellets also have odor-absorbing properties, which aid in minimizing unpleasant odors, as these are easy to clean and compost. The demand for wood pellets for bedding has increased for horse bedding applications in the past few years. The adoption of biomass pellets for animal bedding applications has further prompted the manufacturers and organizations to invest in research and development of wood pellets. For instance, in 2019, European Commission, under Horizon 2020 program, funded approximately US$ 9.09 million for the ECO-Pet project. The project was aimed at the development of value-added products such as wood pellets from residuals of the sawmilling process and disused wood waste from conifers and hardwoods. The developed wood pellets were durable, absorbent, and 38% cheaper than other animal bedding products. The ECO-Pet project is aligned with European Commission’s Circular Economy Strategy. Thus, the adoption of biomass pellets for animal bedding is contributing to the Europe biomass pellets market.

Europe Biomass Pellets Market Overview

According to a report published by the United States Department of Agriculture in 2022, the consumption of wood pellets in the EU has been on the rise, attributed to the growing residential applications in Germany and co-firing of wood pellets in the Netherlands. The report revealed the increasing production of wood pellets in the EU27 from 18.67 million metric tons in 2019 to 19.70 million metric tons in 2021. The major consumers of wood pellets in the EU are Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, France, Sweden, Belgium, and Austria. Biomass pellets consumption in Europe rose in 2021 due to rising fossil fuel and natural gas prices. The demand for wood pellets in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium was driven by the rising use of pellets in power plants. According to the Eurostat, biomass pellets production in Germany rose from 2.41 million metric tons in 2018 to 3.10 million metric tons in 2020. According to the Croatian Biomass Producer's Organization, the production of wood pellets in Croatia reached 4 million metric tons in 2020, of which 80-90% was intended for export to other countries. The increasing consumption of biomass pellets in Europe is broadly supported by programs pertaining to biomass pellets appliances by governments of several European countries, such as Austria, Belgium, and France. Further, in 2022, the EU banned Russian wood pellets import in response to the Russia-Ukraine war. The EU trade restrictions associated with Russia led to increased dependency of customers on the domestic production of biomass pellets, thus providing lucrative opportunities for domestic biomass pellets manufacturers.

Europe Biomass Pellets Market Revenue and Forecast to 2030 (US$ Million)

Europe Biomass Pellets Market Segmentation

The Europe biomass pellets market is segmented into source, application, and country.

Based on source, the Europe biomass pellets market is segmented into agricultural residue, industrial waste, wood, and others. In 2022, the wood segment registered the largest share in the Europe biomass pellets market.

Based on application, the Europe biomass pellets market is segmented into power plants, industrial heating, residential and commercial heating, and others. In 2022, the power plants segment registered the largest share in the Europe biomass pellets market.

Based on country, the Europe biomass pellets market is segmented into Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and the Rest of Europe. In 2022, the Rest of Europe segment registered the largest share in the Europe biomass pellets market.

AS Graanul Invest, Drax Group Plc, Energex American Inc, Enviva Inc, Lignetics Inc, Mallard Creek Inc, and Valfei Products Inc are some of the leading companies operating in the Europe biomass pellets market.