Sales of coal, wood and pellets for heating stoves have jumped as consumers seek cheaper energy alternatives to counter sky-rocketing gas bills in the wake of the war in Ukraine.Customers visiting the warehouse of coal merchant Wim van Beek in the central Dutch town of Veenendaal this week were primarily looking to trim spending on heating, the merchant told Reuters.read moreThe Dutch government has been buying oil and gas and announced an 18 billion euro ($17.55 billion) support package to help households in 2023 cope with rising energy bills, and to stave off a predicted collapse in consumer spending power.read more"Demand for stoves has more than doubled," said Suzanne Bakker of Passion for Pellets, which sells a range of different wood-burning furnaces.Coal and wood burning is up to 90% less efficient than gas, more environmentally damaging and poses a greater health risk than gas-powered central heating systems, studies have shows."