Solid biomass barometer 2018

Solid biomass energy consumption trends are at the mercy of public policies encouraging its use, but when we look at the heating application, it also correlates to outdoor temperatures, which were fairly mild in 2017. According to the World Meteorological Organization it was the 5th hottest year ever recorded in Europe, which restrained its increase in heating requirements. According to EurObserv’ER, solid biomass heat consumption increased by 1.1 Mtoe in 2017, which is 1.4% more than in 2016, for a total of 79.9 Mtoe. Growth in electricity recovery from solid biomass was stronger in 2017 (2.9%) reaching 94.5 TWh, driven by coal-fired power plant conversions in the UK, Finland and Denmark.