Covid-19: SFCB writes to the new government to save the wood energy sector

A constructive call, fueled by concrete ideas, quickly enabling the promotion of renewable energies among households in the last half of 2020.
An economic boost which, according to the union, also proves to be an obvious and concrete response to deal with the ecological crisis.

Pre-crisis, very encouraging growth

February 2020. This market is doing well! It is therefore in line with the objectives of the Multi-year Energy Programming (PPE) which aimed to increase from 6 to 9 million wood energy users by 2028.

18.650 wood boilers were sold in France in 2019. This figure brings overall growth to + 54% with + 106% for pellet boilers at 14 units. (Source Observ'ER)
The 1st quarter of 2020 promised a good year with an estimate of + 53% compared to the 1st quarter of 2019.

One doubt remains, however: will there be enough qualified EGR installers to keep pace with demand?

“In 2019 and early 2020, we had the a priori main ingredients to continue the development of wood energy: orders, installers mobilized and significant public aid. However, the balance remained unbalanced with, despite our alerts, Qualibois certified installers still under-staffed.

This qualification is essential for installing wood-fired boilers: it provides installers with access to this developing market, and allows households to benefit from aid and quality installation.

This observation already alarmed us in 2019 and it is still the case today! "

- Thomas Perrissin, Vice-President of the SFCB

After COVID-19: what impact on the wood energy sector?

"Like everywhere in France, we are worried! " says Eric Trendel, president of the SFCB. “The activity of the whole sector was greatly reduced after March 16, but we have to start again to achieve competition with fossil fuels which have become a serious competitor again in view of their current prices. It is a collective awareness to have about our consumption patterns, since we can affirm that we are an ecological response to the crisis ”.

During the confinement, the artisans had to pause. And this despite an order book loaded on March 16.

“Orders will be quickly fulfilled upon resumption, but the very low level of customer relations for 2 whole months will be felt. In addition, we can fear a fall in purchasing power, or at least fears on the part of households, especially the most modest, mechanically lowering their investments ”, worries Eric Trendel.

An obvious impact to predict for the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, which the SFCB intends to mitigate by asking for concrete measures from the government.

Consuming locally and ecologically, a window of hope

While the national economy is undergoing an unprecedented crisis, the support solution for the wood-energy sector appears to be a truly ecological solution to revive the building economy.
A solution that is more than expected by the French, almost unanimously concerned with a more virtuous "after" world.

Few polls confirm this today by simple lack of perspective, but the Yougov Institute still manages to post encouraging figures:

77% * of the population consider this health crisis to be an opportunity to pursue an ambitious ecological transition policy.

Personally, 68% of French people wish to adopt a more eco-responsible behavior following this epidemic.

*Yougov.fr 2020

Why wood?

• A very competitive price: the wood heating bill is 2 times lower than the average.
• An efficient and non-polluting solution: only open fireplaces and old appliances are responsible for the 82% of fine particle emissions polluting our urban areas in winter. Biomass boilers are designed to be as efficient as they are ecological.
• A sustainable and renewable resource: Wood is the 1st renewable energy in France with 43% of total production and France is the 2nd European producer of wood energy (source SDES). However, only 50% of the annual increase in the forest is exploited in France for all uses combined. ADEME has shown that dynamic forestry makes it possible to achieve the wood energy objectives of PPE while preserving our forests.

Economic, available, local, sustainable, efficient… Wood is therefore an essential solution to initiate a real energy transition.

Concrete proposals for the government

In this context of crisis, we wish to alert the State and propose different ideas, solutions and strong measures, immediately applicable.

Above all, these measures make it possible to revive the economy of our entire sector, without doing so at the expense of what is essential today, the future of our environment, with a strong commitment made towards a real energy transition and d '' more virtuous, sustainable and local consumption.

• Immediately reinstate the 9th and 10th deciles in the Energy Transition Tax Credits (ISCED) in 2020 and 2021, in order to widen the proportion of households entitled to aid. Why ? These wealthiest households draw the market, they represent approximately 40% of investments in renewable energies and insulation; they are therefore essential for recovery. Why this distinction of income for heating appliances when, for the purchase of an electric vehicle, any French citizen whatever their resources, benefit from an ecological bonus of at least 3000 € to which can be added a bonus to the conversation of at least 2500 €?
• Maintain and simplify the aids in place: the CITE for intermediate households, the Energy Saving Certificates (CEE) and the boost, the PTZ eco, Ma Prime Renov for modest and very modest households.
• Increase the VAT to 5,5% on fuel to show the desire to promote virtuous energy.
• Resume more fair and efficient carbon recovery.

Why is this carbon recovery not effective today?

This recovery is an environmental tax based on the polluter pays principle to limit the production of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels such as gas, oil and their derivatives.

A true instrument of a virtuous energy and environmental policy, carbon recovery was expected to reach € 100 / tCO2 in 2023; a level already exceeded in Sweden which thus eliminated fossil fuels in heating. The social crisis ended this trajectory by stopping at € 44,60 / tCO2.

If we can congratulate ourselves on the existence of this carbon recovery, we are still far from the ambitions allowing us to massively reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Far from the ambitions that allow us to envisage energy efficiency for a more breathable and greener future by 2030…

It is therefore essential to demand the resumption of the initial trajectory but this time with pedagogy, clarity on its use and above all, significant compensation for the weakest.