Wood pellets from Germany and Austria

Raw material availability

Forests cover about one third of Germany — 11.5 million ha, or 32% of 35.8 million ha^[57]. Austria's forest cover is 47.9% (4.02 million ha according to the 2016/21 inventory)^[58]. Both countries have a large raw-material base, and wood pellets are made mainly from sawdust and shavings from the wood industry and from stemwood — the only raw-material groups permitted in ENplus class A1^[1].

Over the past decade, timber supply in Germany has been shaped to a large extent by damage: storms, the droughts of 2018–2021 and bark beetle outbreaks. The spruce area has decreased by 17% compared with the 2012 inventory, and its growing stock has fallen by 220 million m³ (−18.2%) compared with the 2017 carbon inventory^[57].

Typical wood species

According to the fourth national forest inventory (BWI 2022), the most common species in Germany today is pine (22% of the area), which has overtaken spruce (21%). They are followed by beech (17%) and oak (12%), while the remaining 28% consists of 47 other species. The area of broadleaved stands has increased by 7%^[57]. In Austria, spruce dominates — about 49% of commercial forests, compared with over 56% in 1986–1990. Over the last decade, the share of pure coniferous stands has fallen by 6%, while mixed stands with broadleaved species have increased by 6%^[58].

Spruce is still one of the main species in the forests of both countries, but in Germany its role in the forest is declining, while the share of pine and broadleaved species is growing. Over time this may change the raw-material mix at plants — which is why a “spruce pellets” claim should refer to a specific batch rather than being a matter of habit. More about this raw material: spruce pellets.

The wood industry

Germany and Austria have an extensive institutional framework for solid biofuels — both countries have certification management bodies and inspection bodies (see below). We do not, however, have verified data on the number of pellet plants, their capacity or their raw-material mixData require verification: No verified data on the wood pellet industry in Germany and Austria, so we do not describe the size of the sector in figures.

In recent years, damage in German forests has meant a large supply of timber from spruce stands. Timber from sanitary felling is not an inferior raw material by definition, but ENplus prohibits the use of rotten or contaminated raw material or raw material with a high bark content^[1] — a control that the plant must carry out whatever the country.

Wood pellet exports

Wood pellets from Germany and Austria are also offered in Poland from time to time. We have no verified data on export volumes or on what share goes to PolandData require verification: No verified data on wood pellet exports from Germany and Austria. Nor do we compare prices, because we have no data that we could honestly cite.

A brand associated with Germany or Austria does not necessarily mean a plant in those countries. The place of packing is shown by the serial number on the ENplus bag, which identifies the packing company, the plant and the date^[2].

Uptake of certification

ENplus and the role of DEPI

The ENplus ST 1001 document is published jointly by Bioenergy Europe and the German institute DEPI (Deutsches Pelletinstitut). Outside Germany, the scheme is managed by Bioenergy Europe, represented by the European Pellet Council, while in Germany the managing body is DEPI, which also acts there as a certification and inspection body^[1]. In Austria, the national licenser is proPellets Austria^[9]. Companies from both countries are searched for in the same ENplus register, with the prefixes DE and AT^[3].

DINplus

The second certification scheme closely associated with this region is DINplus — certification by DIN CERTCO (part of the TÜV Rheinland group) for class A1 under DIN EN ISO 17225-2, with annual production inspection, sampling and mandatory internal control. Holzforschung Austria acts as an external inspection body within it^[28]. DINplus requirements are broadly similar to ENplus A1 (including durability ≥ 98.0% and fines ≤ 0.5% in small bags)^[29], but we were unable to download the full scheme documentData require verification: The DINplus scheme document was unavailable during verification; values confirmed indirectly. A DINplus certificate is checked in the DIN CERTCO database^[30].

Which scheme is used more often by producers in Germany and Austria, we do not knowData require verification: No data on the shares of ENplus and DINplus in German and Austrian production.

Logistics to Poland

Germany borders Poland to the west; from Austria, the route runs through the Czech Republic or Slovakia. All these countries are in the European Union, so transport takes place without customs clearance. Wholesale shipments are full truckloads (in trade practice about 22–24 t), bagged pellets on pallets, big bags or loose. For customers in eastern Poland the route is long, which makes the mechanical durability of the pellets more important. We do not give transport costs or times.

Wood pellets placed on the Polish market must meet the national quality requirements^[36], whatever the country of production.

Potential risks

• The “country of standards” effect. A country's reputation tends to be transferred to every product with German wording on it. That is not proof of quality.
• Misuse of the mark. False ENplus markings on bags and forged certificates occur throughout Europe^[6]. A bag “with a German certificate” has to be checked in the register like any other.
• Changes in raw material. The declining share of spruce and forest damage may change the raw material used at plants.
• Long routes and repeated handling — a risk of more dust with pellets of lower durability.

Why check the specific producer

The country of origin is no guarantee of quality — we assess the specific product, producer and batch. A well-organised certification system makes verification easier, but it does not replace it. Check the status of the ENplus certificate in the register or of DINplus in the DIN CERTCO database, compare the details on the bag with the register, ask for a current test report and compare successive batches.