On the Sidelines of the Energy Transition? Firewood at the Crossroads of Domestic Use, Market Logic, and Local Policies[En marge de la transition énergétique ? Le bois-bûche, entre univers domestique, logique de marché et politiques territoriales]

Using the case study of the Chartreuse, we try to understand how and why the firewood sector evolves distinctly from other forms of wood energy. On the one hand, firewood is undergoing complex political and economic changes due to its ambiguous status as a renewable energy, inexpensive fuel, but also a polluting source. On the other hand, firewood producers deal with constraints of access and exploitation of mountain forests and rely on habits and proximity principles to organize their activity, rather than profit maximization logics. Finally, looking at consumers, a portion of them have new requirements (quality, quantity, and practicality) for wood logs, which is due to habitat constraints (small storing space) and the use of high-performance heating equipment. This new demand, stimulated by public policies, constitutes a driver of change in the "physiognomy" of the firewood sector.