PELET LABWood pellet knowledge and selection
Wood pellets under the lens.Quality you can measure.
We compare the parameters, certificates, origin and real-world quality of wood pellets available in Poland and across Europe.
“Not all wood pellets are equal. What counts are the parameters, the raw material, the certificate and real test results.”
Why this knowledge
We qualify producers and are building a wood pellet distribution channel in Poland.
The criteria we describe on this site are the same ones we use to assess products before they enter our offer: quality, documentation, availability and value for money. We publish them because choosing good wood pellets should not depend on trusting a slogan on the bag. In the longer term, we are analysing the possibility of developing sales in other European markets as well.
- 01
Knowledge
parameters, standards, raw material
- 02
Qualification
documents, sample, practical test
- 03
Distribution
qualified wood pellets only
01Key parameters
Seven questions worth asking about any wood pellets
The colour of the bag and the word “premium” tell you nothing. Each of these questions is answered by a specific parameter in the test report.
- 01% db
How much ash is left?
Ash
The A1 limit is 0.70% — at most 7 kg of ash from every tonne. Good batches have noticeably less.
A1 limit
≤ 0.70%
- 02°C
Will it form clinker?
Ash deformation temperature
The lower it is, the more easily the ash softens in the burner and forms hard lumps. Ash composition is what matters — mineral contamination such as sand and soil lowers it.
A1 minimum
≥ 1200 °C
- 03% < 3.15 mm
Is it dusty?
Fines
Dust at the bottom of the bag disrupts fuel feed and combustion. When bags are filled, A1 allows no more than 0.5%.
Bags, A1
≤ 0.5%
- 04%
Does it crumble in transit?
Mechanical durability
Shows how many pellets survive handling, transport and the auger. Every point below 100% is future dust.
A1 minimum
≥ 98.0%
- 05mm · kg/m³
Will the auger feed evenly?
Length and bulk density
Even pellets and a consistent density mean a consistent fuel dose. Overlong pellets jam the auger; short pellets and dust change the dose.
A1
3.15–40 mm · 600–750
- 06MJ/kg
How much heat does a tonne give?
Net calorific value
The A1 minimum is 16.5 MJ/kg — roughly 4,580 kWh of energy per tonne. What counts is the value as received.
A1 minimum
≥ 16.5 MJ/kg
- 07%
Is it really dry?
Moisture content
Water provides no energy, and evaporating it consumes energy. Damp pellets swell and fall apart.
A1 limit
≤ 10%
Important
Reference values are the limits of a class, not the result for any particular product.
02Certificate versus reality
ENplus A1 is the start of a quality assessment, not the end.
A certificate confirms that the producer works within a control system and that its pellets are required to stay within the limits of the class. What it does not tell you is where within those limits a particular product sits.
Two wood pellets carrying the same A1 mark can differ in ash content, calorific value, hardness, the amount of dust in the bag and their tendency to form clinker. You notice these differences in the boiler — and in your heating costs.
That is why we look at the numbers: current test reports, the origin of the raw material, consistency from batch to batch and performance in practice.
The ENplus A1 class window
A B
Both hypothetical wood pellets — A and B — meet the A1 requirements. Yet the difference between them is real.
Ash
A1: ≤ 0.7 % (db)
A 0.3 · B 0.7 — 3 kg vs 7 kg of ash from every tonne
Moisture content
A1: ≤ 10%
A 6 · B 10 — 60 kg vs 100 kg of water in every tonne
Net calorific value
A1: ≥ 16.5 MJ/kg
A 17.5 · B 16.5 — 6% more energy per tonne for fuel A
Mechanical durability
A1: ≥ 98%
A 99 · B 98 — 1.0% vs 2.0% of the mass abraded in the test
03What this site offers
Knowledge, guidance, comparison and partnerships in one place
Knowledge base
Raw material, production, wood species, parameters and what they mean — written clearly, without oversimplifying.
ExploreBuyer’s guide
A checklist, certificate verification and red flags. For homes, guesthouses, hotels and boiler houses.
ExploreQuality comparison
Product sheets that clearly separate the producer’s declaration, laboratory results and our own tests. Module in preparation.
ExploreFor producers
We qualify suppliers for long-term partnerships and regular full-truckload deliveries.
Explore
04From sawdust to wood pellets
Quality is made long before the bag
Clean raw material, proper drying, well-run pelletising and screening out the dust — every stage leaves its mark on the parameters.
“Hardwood pellets are always better.”
Wood species does matter, but less than marketing suggests. Good A1 spruce pellets can have better parameters than average beech or oak pellets.
Softwood or hardwood — a comparisonThe country of origin is no guarantee of quality.
We assess the specific product, producer and batch. We describe the markets of Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Germany and Austria — with their strengths and risks.
Wood pellets by countryA new line of business for a company operating since 1997
05Who is behind it
A new segment, an honest approach
PeletLab is a new project run by a Polish company operating since 1997. Wood pellets are a new line of business for us: we are currently qualifying producers and setting up a channel for regular purchasing and distribution.
For producers and suppliers
We are looking for wood pellet producers for long-term partnerships in the Polish market.
Preferably ENplus A1, 6 mm, 15 kg bags, full truckloads of 22–24 t, EXW or DAP Poland prices, monthly availability and basic product documentation.
Sources and references
Full list of sources and editorial policy- [1]
European Pellet Council / Bioenergy Europe, DEPIapproved 18.06.2025, in force from 01.01.2026Certification schemeaccessed: 11/09/2026
Annex A, Table 4 (threshold values) and Table 5 (raw material). The limits are the same as in the first edition; the method for determining fines has changed to ISO 5370.
- [11]
ISO / TC 2382nd edition, 2021-05Standard paid documentaccessed: 11/09/2026
Edition and scope of changes confirmed in the official preview of the standard. Detailed ISO values were compared with the FDIS draft — see the separate source.
This content is an editorial summary based on the documents cited. Always confirm threshold values in the current edition of the standard or certification scheme document.