Near Niort, Euro Énergies extols the virtues of firewood

The forest occupies 30% of the national territory and grows by 3% each year. It is Alexandre Portier who says it. Director of Euro Énergies, in Granzay-Gript, near Niort, he presents the Cheminées Poujoulat subsidiary as the leading player in France in the production and distribution of wood fuel. And he puts forward a major argument in favor of wood for heating: this energy source is the most economical available, currently at 4.9 euro cents per kWh. “More than three times cheaper than electricity and more than two times cheaper than gas or domestic fuel oil”he specifies.

These data explain the success of log wood (most often sold in 30 or 50 cm sizes) but raise questions about the pressure that this consumption exerts on the resource: in other words the forest. The studies carried out on the subject reassure: “We only take in France, for all our needs including firewood and lumber, a little more than half of the annual biological growth of trees. ».

The future of this renewable energy source is assured by several factors. “Firewood has never been so interesting”assures the industrialist. “The majority of our forests are privately owned and many are underutilized. The development potential, for all types of wood use, is still very significant. »

Room for maneuver still possible

The care taken with fuel efficiency, the efforts made on building insulation and the use of a fleet of latest generation devices have already made it possible since 2012 to increase the number of homes supplied while reducing consumption. biomass. A study, carried out by the Test and Research Center (Ceric) based in Granzay-Gript, accredited by Cofrac, quantified this trend between 2012 and 2023. A trend which the laboratory believes can be refined further. here 2035.

An open hearth pollutes and gives very poor performance

Alexandre Portier details the prerequisites to achieve these objectives: “An open hearth, like a chimney, pollutes and has very poor efficiency. The latter is 10% on average when it can reach 85 to 90% with a modern wood stove..

With quality fuel, oak, ash, hornbeam or beech […]split into regular sections and having a humidity level of less than 20%, the consumption of logs will decrease significantly. “Wood bark is what creates bistre (or soot) and clogs chimneys. ».

According to the manufacturer, global warming and the milder winters observed in recent years are already contributing to the reduction in energy consumption of domestic wood-burning appliances in France. An observation to put into perspective with the negative effects of the same global warming, this time on the forest.