On the way to climate-friendly heating, according to the will of the Ministry of Building, even the smallest municipalities will have to submit heating plans in the future – six months earlier than previously assumed. This emerges from an updated draft law by the ministry, which is available to the German Press Agency and which has been sent to states and associations.
In the federal government, however, the draft has so far only been coordinated with the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
In concrete terms, cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants should have until mid-2026 to prepare their heating plans. All other municipalities would have to submit them by June 30, 2028. These plans should prepare the regionally tailored switch to a climate-neutral heat supply, said Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Construction, Sören Bartol. “It’s clear that we need more staying power for this, the changeover will take time. But if you change your heat supply now, you will save energy costs in the future.”
Municipal heating planning is an important component with which the federal government wants to ensure more climate protection. Because how it is heated plays a major role. According to the ministry, the share of renewable energies used to heat private households is currently only around 18 percent.
Each municipality should now state in which streets or areas it is planning to supply district heating, where local heating will be available, for example via biomass, or where a hydrogen network should be set up. Owners should also find out whether they alternatively have to provide climate-friendly heating systems themselves, for example with a heat pump.
Link to the Heating Act
The law for municipal heating planning thus supplements the long-controversial law for the replacement of old oil and gas heating systems. Because only when such a heating plan is in place should owners be obliged to heat with at least 65 percent renewable energies if their old heating system breaks down. Exceptions are new development areas, where this obligation applies from 2024.
Simplified procedures for small communities
Originally, heat planning was only intended for around 1,600 places with more than 10,000 inhabitants – but now around 9,190 smaller communities are also to be obliged. In order not to overwhelm the latter, building minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) is planning simplified procedures for them. Neighboring municipalities should be able to work together and draw up joint plans. In addition, areas can be named in advance in which there will very likely be no heat or hydrogen network. Reduced requirements for further heat planning then apply here. The authorities do not need new data from the citizens.
Financial help from the federal government
According to the draft, the federal government wants to give the municipalities financial support. However, this only applies to the creation of the heating plans – and not their implementation, for example the construction of a district heating network.
Some regions already have heat plans
According to estimates by the Competence Center Municipal Heat Turnaround (KWW) in Halle, around 400 municipalities nationwide are already working on heat planning. Baden-Württemberg is a pioneer here with around 200 municipalities. But Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony and Hesse are also quite far – all federal states in which there is already a legal obligation for municipal heating planning. In about a dozen municipalities, the heat plans have already been completed. From 2024, owners will no longer be allowed to install new gas heating systems in old buildings – but only if the municipal heat planning already meets the requirements of the federal law.
Climate requirements for heating networks are relaxed
In fact, by 2030, district heating and other heating networks should be supplied with 50 percent renewable energy. That should now be relaxed. By 2030, a share of 30 percent renewables should be prescribed, by 2040 80 percent. However, the goal of climate neutrality by 2045 should not change.
How it goes on
The Ministry of Building is now gathering statements from the federal states and, for example, the municipal umbrella organizations and energy suppliers on the draft law. The main question: Do you think the guidelines can be implemented? In addition, the other ministries must agree. Then the draft can be decided in the cabinet and then discussed in the Bundestag. This is planned by the end of the year.
