Flemish wood-burning policy under fire as emissions rise
Emissions from household wood burning in Flanders have risen sharply in recent years, yet the Flemish government has reported declining figures to Europe, according to an investigation by VRT.
Field measurements by the Flemish Environment Agency (VMM) show that concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogenic substance directly linked to wood combustion, increased by 44 per cent across all measuring stations in 2022. The VMM attributed the rise to increased wood burning during the energy crisis.
However, the figures reported by Flanders to Europe tell a different story. Based on a mathematical model rather than field measurements, official emissions of benzo(a)pyrene were said to have fallen by 16 per cent in 2022. In 2023, the peak year for stove sales, reported emissions fell further, reaching what the model described as their lowest level.
Surge in stove sales
At the same time, sales of wood and pellet stoves surged. More than 19,000 units were sold in 2022, a rise of over 40 per cent compared with the previous year. In 2023, sales climbed above 20,000, up 240 per cent compared with 2019.
Flawed calculation model
According to VRT, the discrepancy stems from weaknesses in the calculation model. The Flemish government does not keep official records of how many wood-burning stoves are in use, nor does it track their type, age or efficiency. Although improvements were promised as early as 2018, sales data are still not systematically collected.
A 2019 VMM-commissioned refinement study relied on a limited survey of 596 households. Researchers warned at the time that the methodology involved significant uncertainties and recommended that Flanders obtain actual sales figures, something that has not been done.
The model also estimates wood consumption using “degree days”, based on average daily temperatures. The colder the weather, the higher the assumed fuel use. Because 2022 was a relatively warm year, the model calculated fewer emissions, despite record stove sales and evidence of increased pollution.
Crucially, the model does not account for energy prices. During the 2022 energy crisis, soaring gas and electricity costs drove many households to switch to wood. Biostatistician Geert Molenberghs of KU Leuven and Hasselt University criticised the approach, saying: “The emission values are completely unrealistic, which means that the health risks are being assessed in a much too rosy way.”
In its latest Air Policy Plan progress report, the VMM itself acknowledged major uncertainties, noting limited knowledge of the composition and age of the stove fleet and the absence of data on new purchases.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO IMAGEBROKER
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