Domestic wood fuel: a widely distributed but significant source of energy in terms of volume<\/strong><\/p><\/h2>\n\n The contribution of domestic wood heating to the energy supply for residential heating is widespread but substantial. Today, wood energy is the most widely used renewable energy source in France by private households: nearly a quarter of households<\/strong>, occupying 7 million homes, are equipped with a wood-burning heating appliance (logs or pellets). Domestic wood heating covers 24% of the residential sector\u2019s heating needs, supplying 69 TWh of energy[1].<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n\n According to the results of the IFOP survey, nearly one in two users rely on firewood as their primary source of heating. The habits of wood-burning stove owners are as follows: high usage in winter (at least 60 days a year) and at least six hours a day for two-thirds of them. The fire is usually lit before 6 pm (72%), well before the evening peak in electricity demand.<\/p>\n\n A reduction of 10 GW in electricity demand thanks to domestic wood-fired heating<\/strong><\/p><\/h2>\n\n The period of peak demand on the electricity grid is known as the evening peak. This occurs at 7 pm, when people return home and seek comfort by switching on their electrical appliances (lighting, heating, cooking).<\/p>\n\n The IFOP study reveals that the amount of power demand avoided during the 7.00 pm peak on a winter evening is estimated at 10 GW<\/strong>. This represents a significant contribution, which is even more important given the prospect of a winter with limited available power.<\/p><\/p>\n\n This vital contribution will be further enhanced by 2035 thanks to the continued growth in the number of high-performance wood-burning heating appliances, combined with improved home insulation: according to an ADEME-RTE study[2]<\/a>, the additional power demand avoided would be between 5 and 11 GW. Replacing old appliances with modern equipment offering much higher efficiency, combined with improved home insulation, will enable us to meet a greater demand for heating without drawing on additional forest resources.<\/p>\n\n Finally, it should be noted that this study was based on households equipped with a wood-burning heating system and an electric heating system (heat pumps or electric radiators). However, domestic wood energy is also used to supplement other energy sources (heating oil, gas), thereby reducing fossil fuel consumption and, consequently, the associated CO\u2082 emissions.<\/p>\n\n \u201cTo make the energy transition a success, simply developing renewable electricity will not be enough. \u201cWe will need to deploy renewable electricity and heat in parallel. These two components are essential, and this study shows just how complementary they are: by helping to manage peak electricity demand in winter, renewable heat production makes it possible to envisage very high shares of renewable electricity in our energy system,\u201d says Jules Nyssen, President of the Renewable Energy Union (SER).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Aymeric de Galembert, Chair of the SER\u2019s Domestic Wood Heating Committee, says: \u201cWe have a wide range of domestic wood-burning heating systems, which are widely used by households during the coldest periods. By using a renewable and storable energy source, they help, as part of a balanced energy mix, to ease energy pressures and reduce our dependence on imports, whether of electricity or fossil fuels. This study highlights the vital role of wood energy in ensuring the country\u2019s energy security, both today and in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Download the Poujoulat study, based on the IFOP survey, here<\/a><\/p>\n\n [1]<\/a>\u00a0https:\/\/www.statistiques.developpement-durable.gouv.fr\/consommation-denergie-par-usage-du-residentiel<\/p>\n\n![\"electrical](\"https:\/\/www.cheminees-seguin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/industry-g2a3653b2c_1920-copie.webp\")
<\/figure>\n\n![\"electrical](\"https:\/\/www.cheminees-seguin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/image.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n
\n
\n\n