Wood pellet heating, yet in line with regulations, called into question in public debates

The ban on gas in new construction by 2022, the non-replacement of boilers also from 2022, or the reform of the new DPE recently entered into consultation, raise new challenges.

Wood, France's leading source of renewable energy, supported by the PPE (Pluriannual Energy Programming), has many advantages for meeting heat needs. The public authorities, aware of the potential of biomass, have made this local and renewable energy source an essential element of the next RE 2020 which will come into force in 2022. More specifically, the pellet, thanks to its energy density, its excellent carbon footprint, clean combustion and flexibility of use, has all the qualities for sustainable heating that respects the environment.

However, many questions remain in the public debate. They concern in particular the rate of emissions of fine particles from heating with wood, or the origin of the wood to make pellets, sometimes associated with deforestation practices.

Faced with these recent challenges, Propellet wishes to recall two major arguments. First, a modern and efficient pellet machine associated with this high quality fuel emits only a very low rate of fine particles. In addition, the pellets are made 100% from by-products of the forest and wood industries. This material does not come directly from logging since it arrives at the end of the chain.

Efficient equipment and certified fuel: The recipe for preserved air quality

Air quality is a major public health issue that the authorities have taken up. Official texts like the parliamentary report by deputy Emilie Chalas on air quality and domestic wood heating or even the recent government action plan for efficient domestic wood heating, all point out a reality: while they encourage modern, high-efficiency wood-burning appliances, they deplore the negative impact of open, old and poorly maintained appliances on air quality.

Unfortunately, and despite the gradual renewal of the heating equipment fleet, open fireplaces and old, inefficient equipment (dating from before 2005) still constitute 48% of the equipment fleet and are responsible for 82% of fine particle emissions. individual wood heating.

Propellet thus calls for citizens to be made aware of the negative impact on air quality that an unsuitable and outdated device can have. The association wishes to encourage the replacement of old appliances by modern, efficient and closed-hearth equipment labeled "Green Flame seven stars" or equivalent. In addition, the use of a certified high quality granule drastically reduces emissions of fine particles.

“Modern pellet heating, as we know it today, hardly emits fine particles. A recent high-performance appliance emits up to 30 times less fine particles than a closed hearth prior to 2002 and up to 30 times less than an open hearth! Unfortunately, the shortcut is still too easy between a traditional chimney that emits a lot of fine particles and a modern high-performance, high-efficiency boiler. We must re-establish the truth about the reality of pellet heating by going beyond a stereotypical image. " - Eric Vial, General Delegate of Propellet.

A pellet made from co-products from the wood industry

“We recently saw in the media a violent questioning of biomass for heating, associating images of massive deforestation with the production of granules. We would like to recall a figure: 100% of the granulate is made from co-products from the wood industries, such as chips or sawdust, which are produced during the first processing of wood (to make frames, furniture, etc. ) The granule therefore has a key role to play in the recovery of these residues in energy! " - Eric Vial, General Delegate of Propellet

The manufacture of wood pellets plays a major role in the life cycle of wood, especially when it comes to reusing co-products that would not find other outlets.

The production of granules also comes from the thinning or maintenance cutting of the forest. These cuts allow young trees in particular to obtain more light to grow. They ensure a more dynamic silviculture and allow the regeneration of trees so that they capture more carbon.

“Many concerns currently persist regarding the availability of the resource and many imagine that the massification of wood heating will lead to overexploitation of the forest fabric. It's wrong ! The production of these co-products is large enough to meet the pellet heating needs. On the other hand, the purpose of wood pellets is not to meet all energy needs. The transition necessarily involves the energy mix ” - Eric Vial, General Delegate Propellet

Naturally, the renewal of individual wood-burning appliances, which are now much more efficient, combined with efforts to heat efficiency in buildings will lead to the same quantity of wood being able to heat a greater number of households. French. In addition, as the building or furniture needs are increasing, this will be accompanied by a controlled increase in forest withdrawals, in any case much lower than the growth of the forest.