When the Lights Go Out: Why Woodburning Stoves in an Energy Crisis Matter

In a world of blackouts and rising bills, a woodburning stove can mean comfort, warmth, and security. Here’s how they provide independence during an energy crisis.

January 23, 2025
By Reece Toscani
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A Cold Winter Wake-Up Call

When it comes to resilience, woodburning stoves in an energy crisis offer something the grid cannot: security. Picture this: It’s a cold January evening. Your central heating system cuts out, the electricity flickers, and the house falls silent. For many, that would spell disaster. For households with a woodburning stove, though, it’s just another evening spent infront of the fire..

This isn’t just a romantic fireside fantasy. At the start of 2025, the UK’s natural gas reserves fell to what The Guardian described as “dangerously low levels” – equivalent to just seven days of winter demand after a prolonged cold snap (Guardian, Jan 2025). This is not an isolated event. The UK is uniquely vulnerable to such shocks because of how reliant we are on natural gas: around 85% of homes use gas boilers for heating, while natural gas generates 40% of our electricity supply (National Grid ESO).

When reserves dip, we’re only a bad storm, supply interruption, or cold snap away from higher bills, unheated homes, and in extreme cases – rolling blackouts. The obvious question is: how can households protect themselves?

Blackouts and Outages: How Common Are They?

It’s easy to assume power cuts are rare, but even in 2024 the UK experienced thousands of reported outages. According to Ofgem data, the average household lost power for 34 minutes in 2023, but those in rural areas often suffered much longer interruptions (Ofgem, 2024).

Storms in particular have become a growing issue. In February 2022, Storm Eunice left 1.4 million homes without power, some for over a week (BBC News). It’s not just freak weather either: infrastructure is under strain, and cyber security concerns around energy grids continue to rise.

For most households, losing power also means losing heating, since both gas boilers and heat pumps rely on electricity to run their controls and pumps. A woodburning stove, by contrast, will keep pumping out heat regardless of what the grid is doing.

Three Benefits of Woodburning Stoves in an Energy Crisis

So where do wood stoves fit into this story? While they’re not a silver bullet, they offer something uniquely valuable: off-grid resilience. Here are three reasons why more households are turning back to wood during uncertain times:

Off-Grid Heating

Unlike gas boilers or electric radiators, woodburners don’t rely on a fragile network of supply chains or grid connections. All you need is fuel — logs, briquettes, or sustainably sourced wood.

During an outage, your stove doesn’t just keep your family warm; with the right design, it can also boil water, heat food, and provide light. Stoves with built-in ovens (like the Rocal Hebar or Austroflamm Bakeoven) have become especially popular for this reason.

Low Carbon Heating

Critics often argue that wood smoke is harmful, but it’s worth looking at the bigger picture. When wood decomposes naturally, it releases the same carbon dioxide as it does when burned. That’s why sustainably managed wood is considered carbon neutral: trees absorb CO₂ as they grow, balancing out the emissions released when burned (Forest Research UK).

Sustainable forestry also creates new habitats, supports biodiversity, and reduces reliance on fossil fuels. This is why the United Nations and the European Commission still classify modern wood energy as part of the renewable mix.

Affordable Operation

As gas and electricity bills swing wildly, wood remains one of the most predictable energy costs. According to the Stove Industry Alliance (SIA), households using wood fuel can save up to 30% compared with heating oil or LPG in off-grid locations (SIA, 2024).

And for those with access to local supplies, or who season their own logs, the savings can be even greater. In an energy crunch, affordability isn’t just nice to have – it can mean the difference between a warm or freezing home.

But What About Emissions?

This is the most common counterpoint: aren’t woodburners bad for air quality? The short answer: old stoves and open fires, yes – new stoves, not so much.

Modern Ecodesign-compliant stoves, which became mandatory in the UK from 2022, burn wood up to 90% cleaner than open fires and older stoves (DEFRA, 2022). According to independent testing, these modern appliances release just 0.2 grams of particulate matter per hour – that’s less than a single scented candle.

In fact, the SIA recently published data showing that domestic woodburners contribute just 17% of PM2.5 emissions in the UK, and this includes the millions of old, inefficient models still in use. By replacing them with Ecodesign stoves, that figure could be halved again.

Of course, burning the right fuel is key. Wet or unseasoned wood creates more smoke and less heat, which is why the “Ready to Burn” scheme now requires logs to have below 20% moisture content (Woodsure).

How to Build Energy Independence with a Stove

If you’re considering a stove not just as a lifestyle choice but as part of an energy resilience plan, here are the key steps:

1. Choose the Right Stove – Check with your retailer that the model is Ecodesign-compliant and, if you live in a smoke control area, DEFRA-exempt. From traditional cast iron models to sleek modern cylinders and even suspended designs, there’s no shortage of choice.

And remember: some models, like the Austroflamm Clou Xtra or Rocal Hebar, double up as cookers. If a winter blackout cuts your power, you’ll still be able to boil a kettle or bake bread.

2. Source Sustainable Fuel – This is where resilience really shows. Build a relationship with a local supplier or consider seasoning your own logs. A simple log store and moisture meter will ensure you always have dry, efficient wood to hand.

Ask your supplier where their wood comes from. Local sourcing doesn’t just support the community – it reduces transport emissions and often means better value.

3. Installation and Maintenance – A stove is only as safe as its installation. Always use a professional registered with HETAS or another recognised scheme. Annual sweeping and maintenance keep emissions low and performance high.

A neglected stove can waste fuel, smoke unnecessarily, and even become dangerous. A well-maintained stove, on the other hand, can last decades.

Beyond Individual Homes: A Wider Energy Debate

The push for electrification in heating – mainly through heat pumps – is gathering pace. The government’s target is to install 600,000 heat pumps per year by 2028 (UK Government Heat & Buildings Strategy). But critics argue this simply increases reliance on an already stretched grid.

Wood stoves won’t replace central heating on a national scale. But they offer something equally valuable: diversity in energy sources. A country where millions of homes have wood stoves is less vulnerable to supply shocks than one where every household relies on gas or electricity.

Countries like Sweden and Austria already integrate wood energy into their national heating strategies, with widespread use of district biomass boilers and combined heat and power plants. The UK’s over-dependence on gas now looks increasingly risky by comparison.

A Stove Is More Than Just Heat

When you light a stove, you’re not just heating a room. You’re tapping into a resilient, decentralised, and renewable energy source.

In a blackout, it keeps you warm.
In a gas crisis, it keeps your bills manageable.
In a carbon-conscious future, it offers a sustainable way forward.

Yes, the flames are mesmerising. Yes, the atmosphere is unmatched. But in an era of energy insecurity, the humble woodburner is proving itself as much more than a lifestyle accessory – it’s becoming a tool of energy independence.

What about you? Have you experienced power cuts in your area? Do you use a wood stove as your backup plan, or is it your main source of heating? We’d love to hear your stories in the comments below.

And if you’re considering taking the leap, explore our Stove Spotlight series where we review some of the UK’s best models – from compact 5kW living-room stoves to dramatic 360° central fireplaces.

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ECO-Design 2022

Reece Toscani

Reece has over two decades in the fireplace and stove world — testing, reviewing, and occasionally getting covered in soot, all in the name of wood-fired home heating. He cuts through the nonsense, busts the myths, and shares straight-talking advice to help you enjoy your stove without the confusion. From Fireplace Products to Redefining Woodburners, if it burns wood, he’s probably tested it, fixed it, or argued about it. Now, through Woodburner Insights, he shares that experience with the world — both here and on YouTube.