The development of the pellets market and of pellets technologies in Austria

The market for pellets in the residential sector in Austria is presently expanding rapidly. About 30 manufacturers of small-scale pellet furnaces are currently active. An overall number of 21,959 pellet central heating systems with an entire nominal boiler capacity of 404,742 kW have been installed in Austria until the end of 2003. In 2004 15 pellet producers produced 325,000 tons of pellets. For 2005 an increase of the domestic pellets production up to 520,000 tons is forecasted. For 2010 a production capacity of one million tons of pellets is possible. Depending on the oil price a surplus pellets production of 40,000 t to 90,000 tons is forecasted for 2005. In the second half of 2004 the price for pellets was 219 l/ton for small bags (single), 199 l/ton for small bags (on pallet), 167 l/ton for bulk (< 6,000 kg) incl. delivery and 159 l/ton for bulk (> 6,000 kg) incl. delivery. (author)