Will homeowners in Germany soon only be able to install heating systems using non-fossil fuels? Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is apparently planning to ban the installation of new oil and gas heating systems from next year. The first echo from their own government alliance was not positive.
Both the “Bild” newspaper and the German Press Agency (dpa) reported on a corresponding draft law on Tuesday. As early as 2024, only new heating systems “based on at least 65 percent renewable energies should be installed in Germany,” according to “Bild” in a draft for the ministry led by Habeck. According to expert estimates, according to the newspaper, only the installation of district heating systems, heat pumps and biomass boilers is possible with this limit value. According to their own statements, both the “Bild” and the dpa had the draft for the reform of the Building Energy Act (GEG) before them.
After the plans became known, the government said there were no final drafts of the amendment to the law. The dpa quoted a spokeswoman with these words without naming their function exactly. According to dpa, Habeck’s Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection is working together with the Ministry of Construction led by Klara Geywitz (SPD) on an amendment to the law.
In the case of damage to heating systems, there should be a transitional period of three years before the corresponding requirements have to be met, according to media reports in the draft for the reform of the GEG. The use of fossil heating systems should generally be banned after 30 years of operation. According to “Bild”, the 92-page draft lists step by step when the oil and gas heating systems have to be switched off. From 2045, the use of oil and gas heating will be completely banned.
The FDP announced opposition to the plans. Your spokesman for housing policy, Daniel Föst, told the “Bild” newspaper: “In the coalition, we have agreed that from 2024, new heating systems should use 65 percent renewable energies as far as possible. Everything that goes beyond that has not been discussed and is therefore irrelevant .” The coalition must not overwhelm the people. The Ministry of Economics “and Robert Habeck sometimes have fantasies that cannot be done with the FDP,” said Föst.
Also the house owners association
The coalition agreed about a year ago that from January 1, 2024, every newly installed heating system should be operated with 65 percent renewable energy. This requirement is to be anchored in the Building Energy Act. In the coalition agreement, however, the new regulation was originally planned for a later date – on January 1, 2025.
But Habeck is apparently putting pressure on the conversion of heating systems in houses in Germany, which not only can cost five-digit amounts per system, but are also not possible in every building for structural reasons. According to dpa, for example, the Green politician made it clear last Wednesday that he saw a strong need for state support in the increased switch to “climate-friendly heating”, as it called it. After a visit to the company in Elsterheide, Saxony, he said that the funding had to be such that people with a smaller budget were not prevented from renovating a house, installing a heat pump or removing the gas burner.
The federal government must create the financial means to make up the difference to gas heating, which is cheaper, until the ramp-up is there and alternative technology has become cheaper, said Habeck.
The exchange of heating is already being promoted. There are sometimes long delivery times for heat pumps. Germany has legally committed to becoming greenhouse gas neutral by 2045 at the latest. To this end, the use of fossil fuels in building heating is to be completely phased out by 2045 at the latest.
Sources: “Bild” newspaper (payment offer), dpa
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