Pellet stove: the price of pellets is rising, should we fear a shortage this winter?

The summer isn’t even over yet, and in the context of the current energy crisis, one question arises: you’re heating yourself up with it wood pellet stoves Will they have enough pellets this winter?

There Demand is already highthe pros note, which happens much earlier in the year than usual. What to worry about defect ? It all depends in part on consumers. Explanations.

The price has almost doubled within a year

Already a first not very reassuring observation, the price of wood pelletsalso called pellets, has almost doubled in a year. According to TotalEnergies, the price for a tonne of pellets packed in 15 kg sacks was EUR 280 in July 2021, but it is now EUR 550.

An increase confirmed by Eric Vial, General Delegate of Propellet, the national association of wood pellet heating professionals. “We’re up between 80 and 100 percent compared to the same period last year,” he told UFC-Que Choisir, which a Propellet spokesman confirmed News.fr.

A situation unreleased while “the pellet is a local energy” mainly produced in France. “We are not used to large price fluctuations at all [… étant] usually little dependent on geopolitical issues,” he continued.

Inflation and War in Ukraine

But the war in Ukraine and the inflationary context were there. Because this increase is due in particular to the general increase in energy costs, e.g make sawdust of wood (electricity and gas), but also to the increase in transportation costs (Fuels) as well as the rising commodity prices (Packaging).

“We currently have additional costs of between 100 and 130 euros for the production of one tonne of pellets,” adds the Propellet Association in a press release. “However, in view of the economic situation, pellets are increasing less than other energies and will ultimately never have been as competitive,” the association reassured.

And what can be expected in the coming months? Since the price of the pellet “is directly linked to various factors (transport, packaging, packaging), it is therefore not possible to predict possible future increasesdeclares to News.fr a propellet speaker.

What is certain, however, is that the French wood pellet industry will commit itself to “offering a product at the fairest possible price for the consumer. »

growing need

Against this background and in view of rising energy prices, more and more consumers, companies or municipalities are deciding to take the step and heat with a pellet stove or boiler themselves.

what to do jump demandalready favored by a government incentive system and the ban on installing oil or coal-fired boilers since July 1, 2022.

Result: “The demand for heating with pellets has increased enormously,” emphasizes Propellet. Between 2020 and 2021, the sale of pellet stoves has thus increased by +41% and Sale of pellet boilers by 120%“with 180,000 or 32,000 coins”.

The non-renewal of oil appliances from July 1st will further push the progress of appliances and especially pellet boilers that work like oil boilers as they produce hot water.

A situation that is all the more tense as experts can no longer count on the 15% pellets that are normally imported from Russia, Belarus or the Ukraine.

Danger of shortage?

Plus, consumers are already flocking to bags of pellets in anticipation of winter fear of lack and possible further price increases. Currently, “the demand for pellets is between two to five times higher than average”observes propeller.

For his part, Eric Vial notes that “instead of ordering a ton of pellets, some people buy two or three, so some dealers refuse to take on new customers”.

Should we therefore fear that a defect ? No, assures Eric Vial, for whom “consumers need to keep their cool: our data shows there is nothing to worry about. The current tension is real and there is a small lack of volume, but the sector is working to fill it.” “We must also insist everyone’s responsibilityadds the spokesman for PropelletNews.fr.

Thoughtful and consistent storage, as well as regular maintenance of equipment for good performance and optimal performance will allow not to aggravate the situation.

Even more so is the location encouraging that the sector is organizing itself, in particular to avoid overstocking, and plans, “thanks to the expansion of certain production lines and the construction of new granulation plants”, one million additional tons distributed between 2021 and 2024 and “a doubling of production capacity by 2028.”

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