the wood heating market | France

1.1 Background and market definition

Wood can be called " wood energy" to describe the energy recovery of forest by-products (branches, small wood, etc.) and industrial by-products (bark, sawdust, shavings, etc.). France is the first country in Europe to consume wood for energy purposes and produces more wood than it consumes. Domestic wood heating is a sector in which French players are very present, both in the construction of appliances and in equipment. In France, most of the market is residential, and sales of wood heating systems are largely driven by sales of stoves, followed by closed fireplaces and inserts.

Regarding collective wood heating, its use remains very marginal compared to individual heating, but there is a strong potential and an important resource. Thus, wood boilers can be installed by local authorities during renovations or construction of new buildings (schools, collective housing, hospitals, health establishments, sports complexes, etc.). a heating network between neighboring buildings can also be considered in order to make the best use of energy, to pool investments and to simplify the management of the existing heating systems. The network manager 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 actors present on the market, we find, among others, the manufacturers of independent appliances (closed fireplaces/inserts, wood stoves, cookers, etc.), the manufacturers of domestic boilers (manually or automatically fired), the manufacturers of flue pipes, and manufacturers of wood fuels.

In 2022, in the context of rising electricity and hydrocarbon prices, wood heating becomes an alternative to traditional heating (electricity and gas).