The UK Government’s decision last year to temporarily suspend the need for large UK users to only use ENplus A1 standard wood pellets was and has been well received by the UK’s biomass for the heating industry. With markets normalizing and alternative supply chains now established, the UK Pellet Council (UKPC) is working closely with OFGEM and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to collectively communicate the closure of the temporary suspension.
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The decision last year to temporarily suspend the need for large UK users to only use ENplus A1 standard wood pellets was brought on by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and helped to free up supplies for smaller biomass boiler owners, enabling traders to navigate challenging market conditions, and ultimately allowed lower quality wood pellets to be used for heating.
However, fast forward twelve months, and with markets normalizing and alternative supply chains now established, the UK Pellet Council (UKPC) is working closely with OFGEM and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) – formerly the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) – to collectively communicate the closure of the temporary suspension.
This will come to an end on November 22, 2023, meaning that all UK traders and customers will be asked to (and be required to) use any low-grade, non-ENplus A1 pellet stock by this date.
The 12-month suspension has absolutely served its purpose, minimizing possible disruption and providing time for new supply chains to be established. This also ensured the security of supply to UK biomass customers over the winter period which despite being unusually warm, also saw less wood pellets being used than first anticipated. This, as a result, helped to free up additional product capacity within Europe. The industry is in a strong position which is very encouraging given the role it has to play within net zero and future energy security policy, said Mark Lebus, Chair of the UK Pellet Council.
Due to the support given by the Government and DESNZ at the time, both the UK’s wood pellet and biomass for heating sectors have witnessed minimal disruption to consumer supply, especially over the winter months when customer demand is usually greater.
This was despite a complete ban on all wood products (including pellets) coming from Russia since April 2022 which removed up to 3.5 million tonnes of pellets from the European supply chain.
Given the scale of this reduction and the speed in which sanctions were applied, having no interruption to supply for UK biomass boiler owners was a major achievement and something which couldn’t be done by fossil fuel suppliers who continue to import Russian gas, oil, and coal. The Department of Energy Security and Net Zero was very proactive in managing the short-term issues arising from the situation in Ukraine, and we thank the Biomass Team as well as OFGEM for their approach and continued dialogue, ended Mark Lebus.
