Wood heat

FALSE

Wood energy is renewable and local, making it a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels, whose prices are volatile and dependent on imported resources. Firewood is considered the most affordable energy, with a price almost half that of gas.

NB: By comparison, in February 2020, the price of logwood was €0.045/kWh compared with €0.086/kWh for gas and €0.166/kWh for electricity.

TRUE

If wood combustion is poorly controlled, it generates fine particles and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are hazardous to health. However, the use of closed fireplaces allows for quality combustion and therefore considerably reduces fine particle emissions.

FALSE

Open fireplaces such as fireplaces are not very efficient: only 15% of the heat produced is actually used to heat the home. Closed fireplaces such as inserts or stoves can achieve efficiencies of 80 to 90%. However, this performance depends on proper installation and maintenance of the appliance, as well as the type of fuel used.

NB: To fully exploit the energy content of wood, logs must have a moisture content of 20% or less. Using a log with a moisture content of 30% will release very little heat, while emitting many fine particles into the atmosphere. What's more, a dry log with a moisture content of 20% will give off twice as much heat as one with a moisture content of 30%.

TRUE

Burning wood emits CO2, but this amount is offset by the growth of the trees. Wood energy is therefore carbon-neutral, and helps combat climate change.

FALSE

France is a country that produces more wood than it consumes. The wood used for heating therefore comes from sustainably managed forests, which do not contribute to deforestation.

NB: the rate of wood removal represents around half the annual natural growth of the French forest. Forests are sustainably managed in France, as attested by the risk analysis carried out as part of the implementation of the European directive on renewable energies.

TRUE

Wood energy can be used to generate electricity in cogeneration plants, which produce both electricity and heat

TRUE

In France, the wood-energy sector accounts for around 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, to which can be added between 20,000 and 30,000 informal jobs (linked to volumes of logs not marketed).

NB: Today, more than half the wood harvested for energy comes from forestry co-products or residues from the processing of timber or industrial wood. By creating new ways of adding value to these residues, wood energy contributes to the economic equilibrium of the wood sector as a whole.