Wood energy's growing demand in France

France is experiencing a significant rise in the demand for wood energy, which is being promoted as an innovative and ecological energy source. However, concerns have emerged about the potential overexploitation of forests, a pattern that some argue is repeating history.

Historical use of wood energy

The use of wood as an energy source is deeply intertwined with the development of human societies, with evidence dating back at least 65,000 years ago in South Africa, where humans used fire to heat silcrete. By 19,000 BC, populations in present-day China were using wood to produce ceramics by firing clay.

Impact on ancient civilizations

The burning of wood was crucial to the development of ancient civilizations, not only for metalworking but also for cooking, heating, and construction. For example, Rome was a major consumer of wood for various purposes, including the production of lime and bricks. This demand led to the depletion of local forests and the expansion of wood supply areas.

Control of forest resources

In civilizations that heavily exploited their forests, authorities often sought to control access to and use of these resources. Testot notes that alongside deforested areas, there were preserved forests that were later used by the powerful for construction and hunting. Repressive control regimes were implemented to manage the competing demands for wood.

Wood supply crises in history

During the industrious revolution, which preceded the Industrial Revolution, increased demand for wood led to significant supply crises in France. Historian Jérôme Buridant describes these crises as severe as modern oil shocks. These difficulties contributed to dissatisfaction before the French Revolution, with some rural communities complaining about the scarcity of wood due to industrial demands.

Forest coverage in France

By the end of the 18th century, forest coverage in France had declined significantly, with less than a quarter of the territory covered by forests. Since the mid-19th century, forests have regained ground, now covering 17.6 million hectares in Metropolitan France and Corsica. However, researchers argue that the shift to fossil fuels has not truly reduced pressure on forests.

Industrialization and wood demand

In the 19th century, industrialization and demographic growth increased the demand for wood across Europe and North America. Although the rise of fossil fuels reduced the role of wood in domestic use, the development of coal also created new demands for wood. Historian Jean-Baptiste Fressoz notes that railways, often called "wood roads," consumed more wood than iron.

Forest expansion and wood use

The expansion of forests in France is mainly attributed to agricultural decline and the abandonment of less productive lands, rather than a decrease in wood use. While forest area has increased over the past two centuries, the harvesting of wood for energy has fluctuated, decreasing after the 19th century and rising again in recent decades.

Rise of wood energy in France

Since 2009, policies aimed at promoting renewable energy have led to a significant increase in the commercial harvesting of wood energy, with a 174% increase between 2009 and 2023. This growth has raised concerns among various stakeholders in the wood industry, who worry about the resource being monopolized by the energy sector.

Prioritizing forest use

Bruno Doucet of the Canopée association argues that timber should be prioritized for construction, as it provides the most economic value and stores the most carbon. However, current trends have reversed this principle, favoring wood energy over other uses.

Environmental concerns with wood energy

The use of wood energy is promoted as a way to decarbonize France's energy mix. However, cutting down forests depletes stored carbon, and new trees take decades or centuries to replace this. This practice may hinder efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, especially as climate change reduces the ability of trees to absorb carbon.

Wood energy's role in France

Wood energy accounts for 33% of France's primary energy consumption from renewable sources and is considered the first source of renewable energy in France by the Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME). However, the exploitation of wood energy involves short tree rotations that deplete soil fertility, making forests unusable in the future. Laurent Testot warns that this practice echoes the mistakes of past civilizations.