Heating with wood
Wood is the energy source of the future.
As a sustainable and environmentally friendly resource in the form of pellets, logs, wood chips or other biomass, wood energy is becoming increasingly important. It is suitable for private residential heating systems as well as local heating networks or industrial plants.
However, questions often arise about suitable filters for wood heating systems, which are crucial for environmental protection and health. Subsidies are also an important topic, as these can be regulated differently depending on the country and canton or federal state.
Wood heating systems are climate-friendly, as wood is a CO₂-neutral fuel. Forest management not only provides logs, but also energy wood as a sustainable source of energy. Wood energy strengthens the regional economy, especially in structurally weak areas.
Wood stores carbon, both in living trees and in the forest floor. Rotting dead wood also contributes to carbon storage. Every kilogramme of wood replaces over 3 kilogrammes of CO₂ that would be produced if heating oil were used. In addition, the majority of investments in wood energy remain in Switzerland, which creates jobs and strengthens the local economy.
Wood energy Switzerland
German Energy Wood and Pellet Association
Particulate matter (PM10), which is smaller than 10 µm, is produced by abrasion, fossil fuel combustion, wood burning and agricultural processes. These particles penetrate deep into the respiratory tract and can cause serious damage to health, including respiratory infections, bronchitis, lung cancer, heart attacks and strokes. According to the Federal Office for the Environment, more than 3,700 people in Switzerland die prematurely every year as a result of air pollution. The WHO estimates that around 280,000 people in Europe die prematurely every year due to particulate matter pollution.
Measures to reduce particulate matter from wood firing systems:
- Optimum combustion with the right oxygen supply and high-quality fuels.
- Effective exhaust filters such as electrostatic fine dust filters.
- Regular cleaning of the firing system and the flue gas system.
Federal Office for the Environment: "Heating with wood, but the right way"
In Switzerland, you can benefit from a climate bonus if you replace a fossil-fuelled heating system with a wood-fired heating system.
These are not only more efficient than conventional heating systems and emit much less CO₂, they also significantly reduce heating costs. The federal government and the cantons provide targeted subsidies to help reduce investment costs.
Most important funding conditions:
- Replacing an oil or gas heating system with a wood heating system (pellets, logs, wood chips, etc.)
- Contract for the replacement of the heating system has not yet been awarded
- CO₂ reductions are credited towards the fulfilment of the KliK Foundation's legal mandate
- "uneconomical" compared to a fossil-fuelled heating system (will be calculated for you by Energie Zukunft Schweiz when your application is reviewed)
- No absolute legal obligation for renewable, or no absolute ban on fossil fuelled heating replacements
- The replacement of heating systems in single-family homes (EFH) is not eligible for funding
More about the climate premium
Renewable heating systems utilise local energy sources and protect the climate. The large-scale EZS support programme "Climate Premium" makes renewable heating more financially attractive throughout Switzerland. The funding comes from the Climate Protection and CO₂ Compensation Foundation KliK.
The newly purchased wood heating system should of course ideally be combined with a fine dust filter. Unfortunately, the purchase of an OekoTube fine dust filter is not subsidised in Switzerland.
New subsidies will apply in Germany from 1 January 2024. When replacing an existing oil, gas, biomass, coal or night storage heating system, you will receive subsidies of up to 70% of the investment costs. By using a particle separator from OekoSolve, you will also receive a flat-rate emission reduction subsidy of €2,500.
Made possible by a tested combination of biomass boiler and particle separator from OekoSolve.
Federal funding for efficient buildings
In Switzerland, stricter limit values apply to wood-burning systems from 70 kW in accordance with the Air Pollution Control Ordinance (LRV). These limit values are periodically checked by the cantons by means of emission measurements. No periodic measurements are carried out by the cantons for wood firing systems below 70 kW and single-room firing systems. Special exceptions apply to handcrafted single-room furnaces, provided they are either built according to recognised procedures or are equipped with modern dust separators.
In Germany, emission limits apply to wood-burning systems with an output of 4 kW or more. The limit values and the use of particle separators are regulated in the 1st Federal Immission Control Ordinance (1.BImSchV).
Air Pollution Control Ordinance (LRV), Switzerland
1st Federal Immission Control Ordinance (1.BImSchV), Germany