Yes. Already during the Roman empire the Ruhr valley was denuded as the trees were cut down to make charcoal for iron making. With modern technology we can do

Yes. Already during the Roman empire the Ruhr valley was denuded as the trees were cut down to make charcoal for iron making. With modern technology we can do better, e.g. torrefaction produces bio-coal with about 90% of the original energy in the wood, but OTOH the scale is way beyond what was seen in the ancient world.