11 Oct PRESS RELEASE HELLENIC BIOMASS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (HELLABIOM)
LAUNCH OF RETAIL PRICE INDEX OF WOOD PELLETS ON THE GREEK MARKET
PRESS RELEASE HELLENIC BIOMASS DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (HELLABIOM)
The Hellenic Biomass Development Company (ELEAVIOM ) is pleased to announce the launch, for the first time in Greece, of a Wood Pellet Price Index for the domestic market . The development of the Index was carried out with the scientific support of the National Center for Research and Technological Development (EKETA) and was largely based on the models of corresponding initiatives of other biomass and pellet associations in Europe, such as proPellets Austria for wood pellets and the Spanish Biomass Association ( AVEBIOM) . The Price Index will be updated and posted on a monthly basis on the ELEAVIOM website .
Key objectives of the Wood Pellet Price Index are:
– Informing consumers about the retail prices of wood pellets, but also about their historical trends.
– The relationship and price comparison of wood pellets with other energy products in the domestic heating market.
– Strengthening the transparency and extroversion of the Greek market of solid biofuels and pellets in particular, through the cooperation of commercial enterprises in the renewable bioheat sector.
– The provision of a reliable source of information on the retail prices of wood pellets and its use by research and scientific bodies when preparing studies.
– Supporting policy makers and public administration services in decisions to support a renewable energy source with a neutral carbon footprint, such as wood pellets.
Price index for household wood pellets
The Price Index refers to wood pellets for domestic use, class A1 according to the ISO 17225-2 standard and certified according to solid biofuel quality certification systems, such as the globally recognized, transparent and independent ENplus® wood pellet certification system for the entire supply chain, from production to final delivery.
Following methodology:
– Selling prices of wood pellets for use in the building sector are collected on a monthly basis through a confidential survey of a representative number of retail outlets.
– The prices include VAT, refer to receipt of the fuel by the consumer (for pellets packed in 15 kg sacks) and refer to [€ / 15 kg] and [€ / ton].
– In the current phase, the fluctuation of the average retail price from September 2023 to September 2024 is announced, while from now on there will be a monthly update of the Price Index based on the repeated survey mentioned above. To avoid affecting the market, the Price Index will be published with a delay of one month.
– In the course of the 2024-25 heating season, a comparison will also be made with other corresponding energy products in [cent € / kWh] (e.g. heating oil, natural gas, electricity).
Average Retail Price Capture Conclusions September 2023 – September 2024
According to the Price Index survey and as can be seen from the graphs of the variation of the average retail price of class A1 wood pellets certified with the ENplus® system, for a 15-kg package ( Graph 1 ) and in reduction for 1 ton of product ( Graph 2 ), a large de-escalation of the retail price is observed within one year from September 2023 to September 2024. Therefore, a tendency of retail market prices to return to the pre-energy crisis levels is recorded , while maintaining, as is reasonable, the seasonal fluctuation pattern.
In particular, in the regions of high consumption (Thessaly, Epirus, Western Macedonia, Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace) where it is estimated that more than 70% of the total consumption of wood pellets for domestic heating takes place, a significant decrease in average price is observed, in the order of €100/ton of product between September 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Wood pellets unfortunately remain at the high VAT rate of 24%, which entails an additional burden on consumers who choose a modern, renewable and environmentally friendly way of heating. ELEAVIOM’s fixed position is the reduction of VAT on wood pellets , in line with the prices of other energy products used by domestic consumers for their heating.
Wood pellets in modern devices and heating systems offer a time -reliable combination of affordable, environmentally friendly and renewable energy . The use and operation of heating systems with wood pellets in Greece and internationally is fully harmonized with the modern lifestyle and is based on advanced technological and aesthetic features that provide a complete experience of thermal comfort to consumers.
Graph 1
Graph 2
