While the prices of gas and electricity have been rising steadily for several months, more and more French people are turning to wood heating.
“Over the first two quarters of 2021, there is an increase in demand of around 30% compared to 2019,”
notes Axel Richard, domestic woodworker for the Renewable Energies Union (SER).
There are many reasons for this renewed interest.
"Wood does not depend on price fluctuations on international markets and thus makes it possible to guarantee a stable price over long periods of time",
says Ghislain Eschasseriaux, general delegate of the Federation of energy and environment services.
Not to mention that it is more economical than other fuels, its price ranging from 4 cents / kWh (logs) to 7 cents (pellets).
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The health crisis is not for nothing either:
"Many French people have saved and invested in their homes for more comfort"
, explains Axel Richard, of the SER.
But acquiring equipment for heating with wood represents an investment, despite MaPrimeRénov 'aid, which finances energy renovation work and Energy Saving Certificates (EEC): from 2,000 to 6,000 euros for a stove. wood-fired and from 7,000 to 20,000 euros for a boiler, with aid ranging up to 3,000 and 14,000 euros respectively depending on income.
“This equipment pays for itself in less than five years,”
emphasizes Éric Vial, director of Propellet, a national pellet heating association.
"Sustainable forest management"
Criticized for its use of French forests, the industry is vehemently defending itself.
"
To guarantee its renewable character, the wood harvest is part of an essential context of sustainable management of the forest, allowing it to renew itself",
claims Vianney de Courtivron, wood energy production manager of the Sylvo Watts cooperative. .
According to IGN, the volume of wood harvested each year represents on average 60% of the net increase in forests in France.
French green gold therefore continues to grow despite everything.
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And logs for household use are mostly a by-product of lumber, dedicated to construction and more profitable. The pellets come mainly from sawmill residues. “
Heating with wood makes good sense in terms of the impact on the forest. But we must be careful to leave the twigs on the ground, necessary for soil enrichment ”
, warns Nathalie Korboulewsky, expert in forest ecology.
As for the pollution of this heating method, which emits in particular fine particles harmful to health, the researcher at INRAE specifies that it can be limited by opting for dry wood and by investing in recent equipment.
By 2025, the government aims to replace 600,000 old devices with the goal of halving these emissions in ten years.
And Nathalie Korboulewsky underlines that
“it will always be better than heating with fuel”.
