New collective housing in Luxembourg: pellets or wood chips? The comparison that matters

Pellets or wood chips for new collective housing: which to choose?

Short answer: for a new collective housing project in Luxembourg, pellets almost always win over wood chips. Three reasons: a 3 to 5 times smaller technical room, simpler delivery logistics, and — above all — Klimabonus 2026 eligibility, which wood chips do not get.

Wood chips still make sense for large sites with bulk access to local wood. For collective housing under 30 dwellings, they are rarely competitive.

What about delivery and storage logistics?

Pellets are stored in a sealed silo, refilled by a blower truck in 20 to 30 minutes. Energy density is around 650 kg/m³.

Wood chips need a silo 3 to 5 times larger for the same autonomy, plus a screw or scraper extraction system and a moving-floor truck access.

• Pellets: 4 to 8 m³ silo for 10 dwellings, basement or below ground.
• Wood chips: 20 to 40 m³ silo, dedicated truck access, reinforced ventilation.
• ENplus A1 pellets: stable quality, low fines, low maintenance.
• Wood chips: moisture 20–40 %, risk of dust and mould in the silo.

What technical room should you plan from APS?

For a 50 to 100 kW pellet boiler, plan a room of about 12 to 20 m², with air extraction and the silo adjacent.

For wood chips, double the silo area and add a specific feed hopper.

• Ceiling height: ≥ 2.30 m for auger access.
• Pellet silo: 4 to 6 m max length for blowing.
• Silo–boiler distance: ≤ 10 m, max two elbows.
• Ash bin: weekly emptying depending on use.
• EcoDesign (EU 2015/1189) and EN 303-5 Class 5: efficiency and emission standards for your specs.

What does Klimabonus 2026 actually fund?

Klimabonus 2026 only funds pellet boilers. In collective housing, you can receive up to €6,000 per dwelling (cap €40,000). Add a buffer tank and the grant rises by +15 %. Add solar thermal and you get an extra €1,000 flat.

For wood chips, no Klimabonus. Only variable municipal grants remain — check the Klima-Agence simulator to see what your commune offers.

• Pellets: €6,000/dwelling (collective) + 15 % with buffer + €1,000 with solar thermal.
• Wood chips: no Klimabonus — only variable municipal aid.
• Sources: guichet.public.lu, aides.klima-agence.lu, myenergy.lu.