Paris plans to improve the use of renewable energy in the urban heating system by importing thousands of tonnes of wood every year from the US, according to media reports.
The project belongs to the Parisian urban heating company CPCU, which plan includes burning 140,000 tonnes of wood pellets every year. The company, that provides more than a quarter Parisians with heat and hot water, will invest EUR 75 million in the plant in Saint-Ouen, which will use a 50-50 mix of wood and coal.
Celia Blauel, Paris deputy mayor for the environment, stated that “this is a good example of how the energy transition is put in place following the United Nations climate conference.”
CPCU reported that the use of wood would reduce the CO2 emissions by 300,000 tonnes per year. Frederic Martin, President of the Compagnie Parisienne de Chauffage Urbain, said that buying the wood pellets from the US it was cheaper than using the ones in France. Thus, the US was given a contract for wood pellets valid for 5 years.
Yet, Saint-Ouen Mayor William Delannoy said that they hope for the French industry to be ready to deliver soon, as they is preferable to buy from home.
