popular articles

France: A town heats with miscanthus, an eco-friendly plant

Bernwiller (Haut-Rhin) uses miscanthus, an ecological and economical plant, to heat its public buildings and about 70 homes. This rhizomatous plant native to Asia has sanitizing properties, does not require fertilizers or phytosanitary products, and has many outlets.

Please share:

“We didn’t plan for the price spike, but we’re still enjoying it.” In Bernwiller (Haut-Rhin), we heat with miscanthus, an ecological and economical plant. Forget about oil, gas or electricity: in this town of 1,200 inhabitants about 15 kilometers from Mulhouse, heating is provided by this rhizomatous grass from Asia that looks like a reed.

The first plot was planted in 1993. “We were really the first in France,” recalls Mathieu Ditner, former mayor of Amertzwiller (since merged with Bernwiller) and retired farmer. “Now it’s all over the place”.

Initially, the municipality uses miscanthus for its sanitizing properties: it lowers the level of nitrates in the water. Then, about ten years ago, came the idea of harvesting it and using it as biofuel in the municipal boiler, instead of wood chips. “Unlike the woods where you have to wait 50 years for it to grow again, there is a harvest every year,” compares the current mayor, Patrick Baur, while in the field behind him the long golden stalks are mowed in a cloud of dust.

Twenty-seven hectares are cultivated by a dozen farmers, who sell for 110 euros per ton of miscanthus. The annual harvest will be used to heat public buildings and about 70 homes.

“A good deal”

“Originally, it was intended to heat buildings in the municipality, such as schools and churches, but we offered some residents to connect and they don’t regret it!” smiles the 59-year-old mayor: “at a rate of 0.077 cents per kilowatt, it’s much lower than other products, electricity, fuel oil or gas, especially at this time.”

Owner of a house bought about ten years ago and connected to this heating system, Damien Monnier admits that he was initially “a little worried”. But today, he is convinced: “We made a good deal”. For the heating and hot water of his 180m2 home, he pays 1,500 euros per year, including subscription: “It’s the best value for money I’ve ever had,” he says, saying he is “serene about inflation.

But its stable price is not the only interest of miscanthus: “it grows by itself, without fertilizer or phytosanitary products. It is a perennial plant”, says the mayor. And the outlets are numerous: heating, horticultural mulch, animal bedding, biomaterials… In Bernwiller, the mayor plans to use it as insulation in the renovation of a building. In the schoolyard, miscanthus chips around the playground cushion children’s falls.

Depolluting

Sonia Henry, senior lecturer at the Soil and Environment Laboratory at the University of Lorraine/INRAe, has been working for several years on this plant that cleans the soil of hydrocarbons. “Miscanthus has the ability to adapt to many environments, including brownfield soils that are contaminated,” she explains. “After, it is not necessary either that it becomes the miracle plant and that one finds of this species there everywhere, if not one is going to fall again on the monoculture, what one currently tries to reduce”.

According to France Miscanthus, an association created in 2009 to structure the sector, about 11,000 hectares are cultivated in mainland France, an area that has doubled since 2017. “Many people come to see what we have done,” says the mayor of Bernwiller, who is happy to do so.

On the day of the harvest, about twenty students from Metz who are working on the sustainability and diversification of agricultural enterprises are visiting. “It’s a plant with a future in industrial themes, bioplastics,” emphasizes their supervisor, Guillaume Dubaux, a teacher in agronomy.

Hervé Lapie, secretary general of the FNSEA notes that “it is developing, it is part of the alternatives like hemp, plants that consume less fertilizer, phytosanitary products and which present interesting outlets. Farmer in the Marne, he is going to plant some himself for the first time this year, a “big investment” at the beginning. Having had to pay 12,000 euros for about 3.5 hectares, he will have to wait two to three years before the first harvest, which he intends to use for mulching or biofuel. pau/bar/ide/vk

Register free of charge for uninterrupted access.

Publicite

Recently published in

Saudi Arabia plans to reduce its reliance on oil for electricity generation by using more natural gas. This change could free up to 350,000 barrels of crude per day by 2030.
The Miami-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) provider announces its name change, marking its expansion into energy solutions while consolidating its commitment to reliable and affordable LNG solutions.
The Miami-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) provider announces its name change, marking its expansion into energy solutions while consolidating its commitment to reliable and affordable LNG solutions.
Morocco is implementing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Nador West Med to diversify its energy supply sources and reduce its dependence on coal.
Morocco is implementing a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal project at Nador West Med to diversify its energy supply sources and reduce its dependence on coal.
Woodside has signed LNG sale and purchase agreements with Uniper, securing the supply of 2 million tonnes per year, confirming strong global demand for LNG.
Woodside has signed LNG sale and purchase agreements with Uniper, securing the supply of 2 million tonnes per year, confirming strong global demand for LNG.
Baker Hughes posted strong quarterly results, driven by a 9% increase in orders for its Industrial & Energy Technology division, despite a 50% drop in cash flow during the same period.
Malaysia LNG is progressively resuming operations following an unexpected shutdown of key modules at Bintulu due to a boiler malfunction, raising questions about the impacts on Asian and international liquefied natural gas markets.
Malaysia LNG is progressively resuming operations following an unexpected shutdown of key modules at Bintulu due to a boiler malfunction, raising questions about the impacts on Asian and international liquefied natural gas markets.
French group GTT anticipates growing demand for LNG tankers following the revival of liquefied natural gas terminal projects in the United States under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
French group GTT anticipates growing demand for LNG tankers following the revival of liquefied natural gas terminal projects in the United States under President Donald Trump’s leadership.
Eni and YPF have signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate Eni's participation in the Argentina LNG project, aimed at developing resources from the Vaca Muerta gas field and exporting up to 30 million tons of LNG per year.
Eni and YPF have signed a memorandum of understanding to evaluate Eni's participation in the Argentina LNG project, aimed at developing resources from the Vaca Muerta gas field and exporting up to 30 million tons of LNG per year.
bp has safely loaded the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 project, marking Mauritania and Senegal’s entry into the global LNG export market.
Eni is set to award a $2.5bn contract for a new floating LNG unit off Mozambique, aiming to intensify the development of the Coral North gas field.
Eni is set to award a $2.5bn contract for a new floating LNG unit off Mozambique, aiming to intensify the development of the Coral North gas field.
TotalEnergies expands its liquefied natural gas portfolio with a long-term supply deal in Texas and a sales contract to the Dominican Republic starting in 2027.
TotalEnergies expands its liquefied natural gas portfolio with a long-term supply deal in Texas and a sales contract to the Dominican Republic starting in 2027.
The coal-fired plant in Saint-Avold will be converted to gas and biogas under a recently approved law, preserving 500 jobs without public financial support.
The coal-fired plant in Saint-Avold will be converted to gas and biogas under a recently approved law, preserving 500 jobs without public financial support.
Mubadala Energy acquires 24.1% of Kimmeridge’s SoTex HoldCo, marking its first foray into the US gas and LNG market.
China is increasing imports of Russian liquefied petroleum gas, but Russia's infrastructure limitations complicate the complete replacement of U.S. LPG, despite joint projects aimed at overcoming these constraints by late 2025.
China is increasing imports of Russian liquefied petroleum gas, but Russia's infrastructure limitations complicate the complete replacement of U.S. LPG, despite joint projects aimed at overcoming these constraints by late 2025.
A lasting peace in Ukraine could revive Russian exports to Europe and weigh on the future of liquefied natural gas projects in the United States.
A lasting peace in Ukraine could revive Russian exports to Europe and weigh on the future of liquefied natural gas projects in the United States.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. continues preparations at Prospect I, located in licence PEL73 in Namibia, aiming for 365 million barrels of unrisked oil resources.
Reconnaissance Energy Africa Ltd. continues preparations at Prospect I, located in licence PEL73 in Namibia, aiming for 365 million barrels of unrisked oil resources.
Baghdad has signed a strategic agreement with GE Vernova to build natural gas power plants totalling 24,000 MW, as the country seeks to reduce its energy dependence on Iran.
Italian group Snam will acquire nearly a quarter of Open Grid Europe for €920mn, expanding its gas infrastructure presence in Germany, subject to regulatory approvals expected by the third quarter of 2025.
Italian group Snam will acquire nearly a quarter of Open Grid Europe for €920mn, expanding its gas infrastructure presence in Germany, subject to regulatory approvals expected by the third quarter of 2025.
Perenco will acquire Woodside’s oil and gas assets in Trinidad and Tobago, expanding its national output beyond 500 million standard cubic feet per day following expected closing by the third quarter of 2025.
Perenco will acquire Woodside’s oil and gas assets in Trinidad and Tobago, expanding its national output beyond 500 million standard cubic feet per day following expected closing by the third quarter of 2025.
Sasol confirms the launch in September 2025 of a key gas project to supply a major power station in Mozambique, following an unexplained delay from the originally scheduled March date.
Sasol confirms the launch in September 2025 of a key gas project to supply a major power station in Mozambique, following an unexplained delay from the originally scheduled March date.
Bulgaria will begin expanding its gas network in the coming weeks, a cornerstone of the "The Vertical" project aimed at strengthening regional energy security following the halt of Russian transit through Ukraine.
TAQA will lead the construction and operation of a 1 GW gas-fired power plant in Al Dhafra as part of a strategic partnership with EWEC, supporting a total energy infrastructure investment of AED36bn in Abu Dhabi.
TAQA will lead the construction and operation of a 1 GW gas-fired power plant in Al Dhafra as part of a strategic partnership with EWEC, supporting a total energy infrastructure investment of AED36bn in Abu Dhabi.
The bp Trinidad and Tobago joint venture has launched production at the offshore Cypre field, marking bp’s second major start-up in 2025 and strengthening its shallow-water footprint in the region.
The bp Trinidad and Tobago joint venture has launched production at the offshore Cypre field, marking bp’s second major start-up in 2025 and strengthening its shallow-water footprint in the region.
Shell has finalised the acquisition of Pavilion Energy in Singapore, integrating a portfolio of 6.5 mtpa LNG contracts, regasification capacity, and bunkering activities.
Shell has finalised the acquisition of Pavilion Energy in Singapore, integrating a portfolio of 6.5 mtpa LNG contracts, regasification capacity, and bunkering activities.

Advertising