Though started in 1980s, French wood pellet market is an emerging market for its slow development. The first pellet heating devices were installed in France by the end of the 1990s and then wood pellets began to be used for heating system. Since the main energy sources are fossil and fissile energies in France, wood pellet market now only has a small position in the heating market.
Materials Available for Making Wood Pellet in France
Wood resources are so abundant that there are about 15million hectare forests in France covering about 30% of French’s total area. Every year wood wastes from wood industry and forestry industry generated in large quantity. While currently these wood waste and forestry residues are not been fully used. It is estimated that about 50 million m3 of biomass could be as energy purpose per year. In addition, France is also a major agriculture exporter in the world that about 15% of its land is agriculture land. Agriculture residues like corn stalks, wheat straws and husks can also be made into wood pellets.
Wood Pellet Production in France
Wood pellet was not well-known by most French people until 2006. In 2005, there were only 2-3 wood pellets producers with a small production capacity of only 25,000 tons. While in 2006, 27 new pellet plants were established with wood pellet production accounts for 90,000 tones. In 2009, the wood pellet plants increased into 42 and the total production of wood pellet increased to 345,000 tons. Then there are 50 wood pellets plants and produced 465,000 tons of wood pellets in 2010. With the increasing wood pellet plants numbers, more and more wood pellets making machines like wood pellet mills are in needed. Our company are expertized in offering all kinds of wood pellet mills and many companies has established intimate cooperation with us.
Wood Pellet Consumption in France
Wood pellet consumption has been increasing in France since 1996 and most of wood pellet production in France are consumed by its domestic market. In 2004, about 40,000 tons of wood pellets were consumed in France and in 2005, the figure increased into about 60,000. And in 2008, about 193,000 tons of wood pellets were used in heating system, while in 2010, 405,000 tons of wood pellets were consumed by French wood pellets market. As more wood pellets appliances are installed in France, the wood pellet consumption in France increased in a stable way during the latest three years. At the same time French wood pellets were also exported to other countries, but the quantity was small only about 15% percent of the total wood pellet production in France.
Investment Suggestions
Though wood pellet market has developed in an active way in France, its growth is relatively slow compared with its neighboring counties. According to the survey of Pro pellet France Association, the common awareness of pellet heating in France is still low and people there were not so familiar with wood pellets. In addition, wood pellet market develops unevenly in France. Pellets in other areas are not as popular as in North and East regions and more wood pellets are used in provinces than in urban areas. So if you want to invest in French wood pellet market, you may pay more attention on expanding your market on urban areas. And since the wood pellet plants are relatively small, large wood pellet plants can be invested in France.
