The municipal utilities in Germany have praised the principle of openness to technology in the planned building energy law. “The bottom line is that the original draft for green gases such as hydrogen has been clearly improved,” said the managing director of the association of municipal companies, Ingbert Liebing. “With the “hydrogen network expansion areas”, the coalition recognizes the role of climate-neutral gases in heating.” In addition, the planning freedom of the municipalities is not restricted.
According to the draft law, as long as there is no heat plan in a municipality, homeowners can install gas heaters that can be converted to hydrogen. From 2029, 15 percent, from 2035, 30 percent and from 2040, 60 percent of climate-neutral gases must be used. This means, for example, biogas or hydrogen produced from renewable energies. The FDP in particular had insisted on so-called openness to technology.
