Miscanthus has enabled the village of Bernwiller, in Alsace, to heat up during the winter without breaking the bank. This little-known plant is much cheaper than most other fuels. Also, it requires no maintenance.
It looks a lot like reeds, but this one has the potential to heat you up at a low price. Near Mulhouse, the village of Bernwiller has supplied its central boiler room with miscanthus for more than 10 years. The plant is weather resistant and dries naturally. Its need for water is also minimal. When crushed, this plant looks like straw. Its fibers are ideal for recycling into biomass. Miscanthus is half the price of fuel oil and three times less than electricity.
An underground heating network connects public buildings such as the town hall, but also directly 80 homes. For its residents, the economy is real with the kilowatt at seven cents. Exit also the drudgery or the purchase of wood and the maintenance of the boiler which is provided by the town hall thanks to their subscription.
Mathieu Ditner, farmer and former mayor of the town, first cultivated this plant in 1975. From now on, the village has 100% control over its heating management. Bernwiller cultivates his miscanthus on his land. 27 hectares are devoted to it thanks to optimized production between 10 farmers. The plant does not need chemical inputs or fertilizers to grow and grows back every year without the need for human intervention, flowering every year for at least 20 years.
Since the prices of electricity, gas and wood have been rising steadily for the past ten years, the choice of miscanthus has proven to be beneficial for Bernwiller. Their total control of their heating model avoids feeling the shocks of the energy market such as the war in Ukraine or the drop in production of the French nuclear fleet.
