Wood pellet heating: when is it worth it?

Wood pellet heating systems are becoming increasingly popular, but are not always worth an investment. We show you what costs you will have to pay and whether the purchase is worthwhile.

What does a wood pellet heating cost?

A wood pellet heating system is comparatively expensive to purchase. You will save several hundred euros over the years thanks to the low-cost operation of the system.

• For a new wood pellet heating, you have to expect costs of around 20, 000 euros. This includes the complete heating and installation.
• If you have to remove and dispose of an old oil or gas boiler beforehand, there are additional costs. A new oil or gas boiler costs around 10, 000 euros.
• The cost of heating with wood pellets is around 4.5 to 5 cents / kWh. You currently pay around 8 cents / kWh for an oil heater and around 7 cents / kWh for gas.

When is heating with wood pellets worthwhile?

Depending on the size of the house, you can save 500 to 1000 euros in heating costs per year. You can have the higher purchase price out again after several years. However, the price of gas, oil and wood may change again in the coming years.

• The Federal Office of Economics and Export Control pays state funding for wood pellet heating. Depending on the size and scope of the heating, you will receive a grant of between 2, 000 and 3, 500 euros.
• To store the pellets, you need a free area of ​​around 5 square meters. Alternatively, you can also use an underground underground tank.

Other aspects of the heating method

The pellets usually consist of pressed wood waste such as sawdust. Since this is industrial waste, the wood pellets are relatively cheap.

• Since the demand has increased significantly in recent years, the pellets mostly no longer come from Germany, but largely from Eastern Europe. Whole trees are also processed into pellets there.
• While oil heaters get 97 percent of the energy from the fuel, the efficiency of wood pellets is only 92 percent.
• However, since it is a renewable raw material, pellet heating is significantly more environmentally friendly.
• Our heating guide will help you choose the right heater for your purposes.