The first based at Montdidier in the sum is already operational

By voting in January 2007, a regional plan energy-climate (POC), Picardy is committed to divide by four its greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve this, the Regional Council, supported by Ademe, development assistance to the control of energy consumption, but also on the development of alternative energies and, more particularly, the wood-energy sector. In total, 17 projects of creation of heat networks are planned by 2015 on the whole of the territory.

The first, based at Montdidier, in the sum, is already operational. This equipment of 1,860 meters length, which feeds three schools, a hospital and a gymnasium, would have allowed, according to the first studies, save 15 on the cost of heating of the commune and avoided 130 tonnes of CO emission in the atmosphere.

At Beauvais, in the Oise département, the work of a second project started last May. It's a bi boiler that will be installed the project of urban renewal (CIP) of the Saint John district. Investment of EUR 11 million will be financed one-third by the public authorities. A power of 20 MW, this boiler will allow, within a few months, to supply heating and water hot 2,000 housing as well as a half of public facilities, or 4,000 equivalent housing in total.

Regional networking

With two other equipment intended for 2011 (whose psychiatric hospital of Philippe-Pinel, Amiens), not less than 80 million euros will have been necessary for the creation of this mesh. An investment sum any modest on the benefits to the local economy: a thousand jobs will be created for the construction of networks, 200 at least for their operation. "Studies show that wood energy sector generates 2 to 5 times more jobs than conventional forms of energy, explains Pascal Dacheux, vice - Chairman (green) of the Regional Council responsible for the environment." We conceive this chain as a means of supporting local development. Aid for investment in the region, associated with those of Ademe and the Fund European, have a real effect trigger, while generating savings (about 10) for the inhabitants. This is why the Regional Council wanted to go further by conducting a study on the creation of mini-grids of heat from the high schools. In the end, 55 sites that may be the subject of development have been identified.

To complete this ambitious programme, yet will it resolve the issue of material supply facilities first. A alone, the first four networks consume, in effect, some 120,000 tonnes of bio-fuels. To cover these needs, the region is mobilising all of the deposits in wood of the region, today little exploited. "According to our estimates, 400,000 tons of wood can be made available in the region, to which it should be added other sources of supply, such as those from paper technologies have evolved.". "This is the case, for example, Venizel plant, in the Aisne, which represents a stock of 30,000 additional tonnes", for his part added Christian Fabry, Regional Director, Ademe.

A collective approach

Another difficulty: these deposits are scattered throughout the territory and the sector wood, consisting of various stakeholders, remains poorly structured. A problem of size to which the region sought to answer by federating the actors of the sector in a cooperative society of collective interest (CICS). Launched last may, structure, named Picardie wood energy, includes about 50 local communities and forest owners, operators, service providers, collectors of waste in five colleges. Eventually, this collective approach could lead to the signing of a contract for the sector. A way for the Picardy to confirm its willingness to take the turn of the "green economy", or any at least of its reliance on manufacturing industries, who today pay high prices for the crisis.