The growing use of industrial biomass electricity generation as an alternative to coal has prompted the launch of a dedicated exchange.
Energy Exchange APX-ENDEX's new biomass exchange will be officially launched on November 3rd, with a dedicated wood pellets clearing service set to be rolled out during 2012.
The idea was originally floated by APX and the Port of Rotterdam in July 2010 in response to market demand.
Port of Rotterdam Authority chief executive Hans Smits explained: "The trade platform is ... indispensible to make energy generation more sustainable via the use of biomass.
"In the port area itself, we foresee a market of two to three million tonnes in 2025."
Biomass is increasingly considered an important alternative to traditional energy production, in the face of rising raw materials costs.
The industry is quickly adapting to the new demands for biomass processing and energy production, including the development of dedicated flue accessories.