Austrian and Italian Pellet Sector Strengthens Cooperation at Meeting in Imst

Key highlights:

• High-level meeting in Imst, Austria, hosted by Pfeiffer Group and CEO Michael Pfeiffer
• Organization by proPellets Austria and AIEL, associations representing the wood pellet sector in their respective countries
• Manolis Karampinis (Bioenergy Europe / European Pellet Council) shared insights on major EU policy files affecting the premium pellet sector and global/European pellet market trends
• Discussions on the ENplus® certification scheme and cross-border collaboration

Strengthening collaboration in European bioenergy

Last week, proPellets Austria with the collaboration of AIEL organized a bilateral exchange for their members involved in the Austrian and Italian wood pellet sectors. This strategic exchange took place in Imst, Austria, kindly hosted by Pfeiffer Group and its CEO, Michael Pfeiffer. The event served as a platform to discuss shared challenges and opportunities facing Europe’s fast-evolving wood pellet and cross-border cooperation between the two countries.

Bioenergy Europe on EU policy frameworks shaping the pellet sector

Representing Bioenergy Europe and the European Pellet Council, Manolis Karampinis, Business Development and Membership Director, provided an overview of the EU policy landscape affecting the premium pellet sector, focusing on four main policy files: the latest developments in the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the revision of the Ecodesign Regulation and its potential impact on pellet stoves and boiler markets, the proposal for a Green Claims Directive, and the expectations from the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. To learn more about Bioenergy Europe’s positions and ongoing work on these key policy files, visit our Policy Positions page.

ENplus®: ensuring quality, traceability, and sustainability

A major part of the discussion focused on the ENplus® certification scheme, managed by Bioenergy Europe globally and by proPellets Austria and AIEL in their respective countries. Over its 15-years of existence, ENplus® has grown to become the global benchmark for wood pellet quality.

Mr. Karampinis highlighted how ENplus® has achieved widespread recognition for its role in promoting transparency, preventing fraud, and guaranteeing product consistency across markets. As the pellet industry becomes more competitive, ENplus® continues to evolve, introducing new tools and auditing mechanisms to ensure certified companies meet the highest standards. He also stressed the importance of maintaining credibility in an increasingly crowded market, where competing certification schemes and shifting policy expectations require constant adaptation and innovation.

Trends shaping the wood pellet market

The discussions among the workshop participants explored current and future wood pellet market trends in Austria and Italy, focusing on common issues: consumer trust, transparency in pricing and communications. Mr. Karampinis contributed to the discussion by offering insights from Bioenergy Europe’s 2025 Pellet Statistical Report on the global and European market trends and expectations for market evolution, both in the short and in the longer term.

Shared goals for a sustainable future

The workshop in Imst reaffirmed the close partnership between AIEL, proPellets Austria, and Bioenergy Europe. By working together in the framework of the European Pellet Council, the three associations continue to strengthen the competitiveness and credibility of the European pellet market, while promoting sustainable energy practices and carbon reduction across the continent.

As the EU advances towards its 2040 climate targets, collaboration between national bioenergy sectors, such as the Austrian and Italian pellet communities, will remain essential in ensuring that renewable heat, biomass energy, and circular bioeconomy solutions reach their full potential. AIEL and proPellets Austria will continue cooperation along these lines, planning a follow up workshop in 2026 to continue the dialogue and deepen the collaboration.