the wood heating market | France

1.1 Context and market definition

Wood can be described as " wood-energy "to describe the energy recovery of forest by-products (branches, small woods, etc.) and industrialists (bark, sawdust, shavings, etc.). France is the leading European country consumer of wood used as energy and it produces more wood than it consumes . The domestic wood heating is an area in which the french actors are very present in both apparatus construction and equipment. In France, the bulk of the market is residential, and sales of wood heating systems are largely driven by sales of stoves, followed by enclosed fireplaces and inserts.

Regarding the community wood heating sound, its use remains very marginal compared to individual heating, but there is a strong potential and a valuable resource . For example, wood boilers can be installed by local authorities during the following events renovations or from new building construction (school group, collective housing, hospitals, health facilities, sports complex, etc.). A heat network between neighbouring buildings can also be considered in order to make the most of energy of to pool investments and simplify the management of the existing boiler room fleet . The grid operator then sells the calories to each connected user. Many professionals also use firewood, in its traditional or compacted form, to heat their establishment or business.

Among the players present on the market are, among others, independent device manufacturers (enclosed/insert fireplaces, wood stoves, stoves), the domestic boiler manufacturers (fed manually or automated), the flue manufacturers and the manufacturers of wood fuels.