The increases in energy prices ignite the interest of families for wood and pellets: this is confirmed by data from Google Trends, which show that the search engine recorded a peak on March 12, with searches tripled compared to the average of the two months previous. The continuous rise in prices and fears related to the war in Ukraine determine the greater interest in renewables such as wood biofuels, at the center of the new edition of “Progetto Fuoco”, the most important world event dedicated to biomass heating, promoted by Piemmeti and scheduled from today to May 7 at the fair in Verona. More than 800 brands are present, for over 60 thousand visitors expected.
And give Aiel
According to data processed by the AIEL Observatory (Italian Association of Agroforestry Energies), wood is the first among renewable energy sources and the second source of heating for Italian families. The wood-energy supply chain boasts a turnover of 4 billion euros, with 14 thousand companies employing 72 thousand employees (43 thousand direct and 29 thousand in related industries). A sector considered an excellence of Made in Italy: 70% of pellet appliances in Europe are designed and built in Italy. Not only that: the employment impact of the production of woody biofuels is seven times higher than that of oil production.
8.3 million systems installed
In Italy, according to AIEL, 11 million tons of firewood were consumed, about 3.2 of pellets and 1.3 of wood chips. In the last 6 years, the consumption of wood and pellets in the residential sector has remained substantially stable. As regards the generator park, there are over 8.3 million biomass heating systems installed in total, down compared to 2014 when it was 9.4 million pieces. The decrease is mainly linked to the disposal of obsolete appliances and the need to replace old products with new ones, technologically advanced and less polluting, emerges.
Replace old implants
If all the old domestic wood-burning systems were replaced with modern technologies, a reduction of at least 70% of emissions of fine dust from domestic biomass combustion would be guaranteed. “The recent surge in the price of gas in the bill has made it clear that a real energy transition has a duty to be sustainable not only from an environmental point of view, but also from a social and economic point of view,” said Raul Barbieri, general manager of Piemmeti. «The market is intercepting this recovery, offering solutions that increase the efficiency of the plants and develop their digitization. The latest generation technologies and the most innovative solutions will be at the heart of Progetto Fuoco “. And Annalisa Paniz, general manager of AIEL, announces that “in the course of Progetto Fuoco the Association will present a series of new policy proposals to do even more, focusing on incentives for technological turnover, certified biofuels, greater involvement of designers and installers- maintainers and a further commitment on the front of education and awareness of citizens “.