STOVES AND PELLETS, BOOM IN ONLINE SEARCHES: +25%
THE PEAK IN VALLE D’AOSTA, VENETO, SARDINIA AND CALABRIA
COUNTDOWN TO THE ITALIA LEGNO ENERGIA TRADE FAIR
From 9 to 11 March in Arezzo the only Italian event in the sector
Stoves and pellets are the focus of interest for Italians this winter, from north to south. The last few months have seen a peak in online searches with the two search keys, as certified by data from Google Trends, an indicator that is sensitive to public opinion and market trends. In the week between 18 and 24 September 2022, searches for the word ‘stoves’ in Italy reached a peak in the last five years, with a 25 per cent growth compared to the number of searches recorded in previous winters, and high numbers were also recorded in November. Valle d’Aosta, Veneto, Sardinia, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Piemonte were the regions from which most people queried the search engine. And the number of searches for the word “pellets” also peaked in the same days, again up by 25 per cent compared to the last five years, and with an upturn in interest between the end of November and the beginning of December. Sardinia, Valle d’Aosta, Calabria, Molise and Basilicata are the regions most sensitive to the topic.
The installed base in Italy, as confirmed by the latest data from Aiel – the Italian agroforestry energy association, consists of over 8.3 million biomass heating systems, with a growth in the last decade of pellet generators, which account for about 72% of the total appliances sold in Italy. There are about 14 thousand Italian companies involved in the “from the forest to the chimney” supply chain, with a total turnover of over 4 billion euros and more than 72 thousand jobs. A sector that faces the challenges of technological innovation and sustainability: thanks to technology turnover, it is possible to reduce fine particulate emissions from domestic biomass combustion by 70%. In 2020, 71 thousand Italians signed up for the “Conto Termico”, the incentive that enables them to buy a new stove. There is still a long way to go in this regard: 66% of installed generators are more than 10 years old, 19% are 5 to 10 years old and 15% are less than 5 years old.
Data that make the appointment of Italia Legno Energia, the only Italian exhibition event in 2023 dedicated to biomass heating, which will take place 9-11 March at the Arezzo Exhibition Centre, even more strategic. The biennial event is promoted by Piemmeti SpA, a Veronafiere company that in even years organizes Progetto Fuoco in Verona, the most important event in the world in this sector: the aim is to surpass the success of the last edition, which in 2019 gathered 200 exhibitors, 25% of whom from abroad, and attracted 20 thousand visitors in the 25 thousand square metres of exhibition space.
“The interest of families and companies in this source of energy is growing, and strengthening the wood supply chain also responds to a prospect of energy autonomy for the country,” – emphasizes Giovanni Mantovani, President of Piemmeti spA –. Our commitment to promoting growth and innovation in the sector can only be strengthened, enhancing the excellent companies that make Italy a leader in Europe”.
“At Italia Legno Energia we are continuing the conversation begun in Verona with the excellent results of the last edition of Progetto Fuoco – explains Raul Barbieri, Director of Piemmeti spa –. Events that represent moments of dialogue and reflection between the players in the sector, as we saw in the autumn when we took the initiative to bring together stove and pellet manufacturers with the common objective of guaranteeing the reliability of a supply chain that is experiencing significant growth”.
Five product sectors will be on show in the exhibition halls of the Arezzo Trade Fair: fireplaces, stoves, cookers, barbecues; boilers and large biomass systems; pellets, wood chips and firewood; pellet machines; fireplaces and accessories.
Italia Legno Energia is sponsored by the Region of Tuscany, the Province and Municipality of Arezzo and the Tuscan Chambers of Commerce.
Further information at www.italialegnoenergia.it
