The market for pellets in Sweden increased by 8.3 percent in 2019 compared to the previous year. The increase corresponds to 155 622 tonnes of pellets or 0.7 TWh of energy. In total, more than two million tonnes of pellets were consumed in Sweden in 2019, corresponding to 9.7 TWh of energy according to a survey by Tidningen Bioenergi – a Swedish bioenergy trade publication owned by the Swedish Bioenergy Association (Svebio).
The analysis of pellet production is based on Tidningen Bioenergi’s survey in March 2020 to just over 60 pellet producers in Sweden. Details of the 58 producers who have responded and are active are presented on a pellet map (in Swedish). The map also shows a selection of industries, heat, and power plants that use pellets to generate steam, electricity, and heat.
Three new pellet plants started operations in 2019. Those that have started pellet production are the wood floor manufacturer Kährs Group in Nybro, BKtech Pellets in Norrköping, and Fuelwood Group in Söderhamn. Two smaller pellet producers, Loarps Energi and Läppe Pellets ceased production.
Production and imports increased during 2019
According to Tidningen Bioenergi, pellet production in Sweden in 2019 was pegged at 1 703 400 tonnes or 8.1 TWh, compared with 1 642 230 tonnes in 2018. This 61 170 tonnes of additional output is an increase of 3.7 percent.
The pellet producers’ own production targets for 2020 suggest a total production of 1 938 600 tonnes of pellets, corresponding to 9.3 TWh. The total known production capacity in 2020 corresponds to 2 408 850 tonnes of pellets.
In 2019, imports of pellets were approximately 435 570 tonnes or 2.1 TWh, an increase of just over 55 000 tonnes, corresponding to a 15 percent increase compared to 2018. Pellet exports in 2019 were 115 439 tonnes, a decrease of 38 837 tonnes, corresponding to a 25 percent decrease compared to 2018.
Facts
About the survey
Pellets in Sweden are produced from residues from the sawmill- and wood processing industry and are mainly used as fuel to produce heat, electricity, or steam. One tonne of pellets contains about 4.8 MWh of energy. The compilation is based on Tidningen Bioenergi’s survey of all pellet producers in Sweden in March 2020 and on statistics on imports and exports from Statistics Sweden (SCB).
In 2019, there were 58 pellet plants operational of which 20 had an annual production of less the 5 000 tonnes and two plants had production larger than 100 000 tonnes. Producers were asked how much pellets were produced during the year while the volume of pellets in stock was not taken into consideration.
