Pellet vs oil & gas: the carbon math for a new build in Luxembourg

How much CO₂ does a pellet boiler really save versus oil or gas?

ADEME's figures are clear: a pellet boiler emits 11 to 27 g CO₂eq/kWh, versus 219 g for natural gas and 324 g for heating oil. That is an 85 to 95 % reduction for the same delivered heat.

For a new build consuming 15,000 kWh per year — typical of a well-insulated single-family home — this means roughly 3.8 tonnes of CO₂ avoided annually versus oil, and 3.1 tonnes versus gas.

• Pellets: 11–27 g CO₂eq/kWh
• Natural gas: 219 g CO₂eq/kWh
• Heating oil: 324 g CO₂eq/kWh
• Net saving: up to ~90 % CO₂ over the lifecycle

EcoDesign 2022 and EN 303-5 Class 5: what your building permit must show

Since 1 January 2020, EU regulation 2015/1189 (EcoDesign) sets binding emission limits (PM, OGC, CO, NOx) for every new solid-fuel boiler below 500 kW installed in the EU.

EN 303-5 Class 5 is the top tier for efficiency and clean combustion — and it is the de facto benchmark used in Luxembourg permit reviews. Tatano boilers are engineered to meet it.

Adding ENplus A1 pellets to your specification guarantees a stable calorific value, low ash, and reliable ignition across the heating season.

• EcoDesign = mandatory EU emission limits
• Class 5 = best-in-class efficiency
• ENplus A1 = the heating-grade pellet standard

Klimabonus 2026: how to capture the maximum at design stage

Single-family home: up to €8,000 Klimabonus — or €4,000 if there is no old system to replace. Multi-family building: €6,000 per unit (cap €40,000). District heating network: €6,000 (cap €24,000).

Add a correctly sized buffer tank and you unlock +15 % on top of the base aid. Pair with thermal solar for an extra €1,000 flat bonus. Municipal top-ups are variable by commune and stackable with the state aid — run the Klima-Agence simulator before submitting.

• Single-family: up to €8,000
• Multi-family: €6,000/unit
• +15 % bonus with buffer tank
• +€1,000 with thermal solar
• Municipal aid: variable, stackable

APS checklist: 5 technical decisions that secure your file

A handful of design choices lock in compliance, eligibility, and 20 years of smooth operation. Architects should confirm each of these with the MEP engineer before submitting the permit file.

The goal: a permit-safe dossier, a Klimabonus-eligible installation, and a boiler room built for decades — not decades of fixes.

• Boiler selection: Class 5 + EcoDesign, pellets only for LU grants
• Buffer tank: ≥ 20 L/kW to qualify for the +15 % bonus
• Pellet storage: dry room, ≥ 4 m³ in a single-family home, truck-accessible
• Flue system: EU-compliant, with a properly sized combustion air supply
• Specification text: require ENplus A1 as a contractual clause