Pellets manufacturing in Netherlands

There are two pellet manufacturing plants in the Netherlands: one is in the west of the country, another one is in the middle (Figure 1). Their overall manufacturing capacity makes 130.000 tones, which is usually being used per 80-90%. The pellets are manufactured in accordance with ‘DIN 51731’ quality standards. The production is traded by manufacturers independently and with the help of six traders, located in Netherlands. 53% of manufactured pellets are used for power generation and approximately 47% is being applied for heating (bags, bulk).
Chart 1: pellets market dynamics from 2005 to 2008 (in tones)

Year Overall manufacturing capacity Overall production Usage

2008 130,000 120,000 913,500
2007 130,000 107,500 704,000
2006 130,000 110,000 484,000
2005 130,000 110,000 485,000



Energy Pellets Moerdijk BV, the biggest Netherlands pellets manufacturer produces wood pellets, CO2- neutral high quality fuel for power stations and heating systems. The company has transport: vessel, train and truck. The other company, Plospan Bioenergy BV in Waardenburg, founded in September 2005, specializes at hardwood pellet (supplied mostly from tropical countries) production. Such pellet is the most convenient for small and medium scale automated boilers, which send pellets to fireplace automatically, using transport axel.

Chart 2: Production of wood pellets 2008 based on the size of the pellets plants (in tones)

pellets plants volume Manufacturing capacity 2008 Overall manufacturing 2008 Quantity of
pellets plants
2008 Consumption rate 2008
[%]
small (< 30,000 tonnes/year) 0 0 0 0
medium
(30,000 – 70,000 tonnes/year) 30,000 20,000 1 67
large


Both companies have their own transport park, consisting of container trucks and trailers with special suction equipment for sawdust and other feedstock collection. The transport has option of containers delivery and changing when they are full. The same transport transfer pellets to wholesalers and dealers, who send them to consumer afterwards. Both companies have stock for pellets storage, so the supply problem should not occur.