They ban coal and gas. It's time for the Polish pellets. Tusk squad will frost Poles in the name of “fight for climate”

The fresh rules on the quality standards of pellets prepared by the Ministry of Climate and the Environment are creating increasing controversy. The introduction of excruciating method requirements can have a crucial impact on the Polish biomass market, lead to higher prices and reduce the availability of national pellets. This is surely a way for Germany, which is the largest maker of pellets in Europe.

What does the fresh regulation contain?

According to the draft regulation, which was published on infor.pl, The Ministry of Climate and Environment wants to rise quality standards for wood biomass marketed in the form of pellets and briquettes.

‘The Regulation of the Minister of Climate and Environment on quality requirements for biomass obtained from trees and shrubs placed on the marketplace or subject to the customs procedure for placing on the marketplace in the form of briquette or pellets is likely to introduce specified method requirements for pellets. A large proportion of tiny and medium-sized pellets producers will not be able to meet them" – we read on infor.pl.

New standards include:

• allowed humidity,
• fuel value,
• the diameter and dimension of the pellets,
• nitrogen, sulphur and chlorine content,
• filling density.

Compliance with these stringent requirements may be hard and even impossible for any manufacturers.

Criticism of changes by the Confederation

The representatives of the Confederation powerfully argue the fresh regulations, claiming that they are intended to weaken the Polish manufacture in favour of abroad producers. Paweł Usadek, the party's activist, expressed his concerns on Twitter:

— Paweł Usiećek (@PUsiadek) December 27, 2024

"Little that ministry in Poland is as susceptible to abroad lobbying as the ministry of the environment. Get distant from our homes" added Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik, Euro MP of the Confederation.

— Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (@EwaZajaczkowska) December 28, 2024

According to the Site, fresh regulations can increase the price of pellets and reduce its availability on the market. In practice, this means that many Polish producers will not be able to meet the costs of upgrading production lines, which can lead to their closure.

Impact on consumers

Experts inform that compliance costs will affect consumers. Pellet prices will gotta emergence to cover additional procedures and investments. As a result:

• A narrower scope of pellets on the marketplace can force consumers to buy more costly abroad products.
• Some producers, especially the smaller ones, may fall out of the market.

Germany's biggest beneficiary?

Paweł Usądek points to the possible benefits of fresh regulations for German producers.

"The largest maker of pellets in Europe is Germany, which produces more than 3.6 million tonnes of this fuel each year. This is 3 times more than Poland (data for 2022). The owners of pellet kilns will so gotta scope for a German product," he notes.

The increase in quality standards can so consequence in further dependence of Poland on abroad suppliers, which will affect the competitiveness of national producers.

Summary

The fresh rules on the quality of pellets rise legitimate concerns for both producers and consumers. Their effects can be felt in the form of higher prices, limited availability of home pellets and reduced competitiveness of Polish industry. Will the changes truly contribute to improving the quality of the environment, or will they be another blow to the Polish economy? Time will tell.