Berlin.
The ban on fossil heating should not apply to existing buildings. But is it still allowed to install a new gas or oil heating system in 2023?
Away from fossil fuels and rely on renewable energies instead – that’s the plan. And the traffic light coalition is stepping on the gas: the installation of monovalent gas and oil heating systems is to be banned in Germany as early as 2024. In addition to purely regenerative Technology such as heat pumps or local and long-distance heating, only hybrid gas or oil heating would come into question. But the federal government’s plans are met with criticism – above all the ban on oil and gas heating without a climate-friendly component.
Oil and gas heating is not threatened with a ban: Install another heating system in 2023? That’s what the expert advises
The plans for a new heating law by Economics Minister Robert Habeck were therefore once again toned down in the cabinet. Existing gas and oil heating systems should not fall under the 65 percent renewable energy requirement. In addition, broken ones should heaters repaired and can continue to be used after the repair. A majority of owner is not affected by the plans for the time being. In theory, installing a new oil or gas heating system in 2023 is also conceivable.
According to the current status of the heating plans, the new gas or oil heating system purchased in 2023 would be exempt from the requirement for a mandatory proportion of renewable energy from 2024. However, the majority of energy experts advise against investing in a monovalent gas or oil heating system. This is solely due to the CO₂ pricing Not a sensible option in the long term, explains Benjamin Weismann – Federal Managing Director of the Energy Consultants Association GIH – in an interview with our editors.
New oil or gas heating from 2023: Owners are faced with enormous costs – reason to be amazed
Weismann warns: “If the CO₂ price rises – as many experts expect – to more than 100 euros per tonne of CO₂ in the next few years, you can add up one five-digit sum Where technically possible, the energy consultant therefore recommends the heat pump – monovalent or in a hybrid solution with gas or oil. In old buildings from 2024, the expert advises solutions with a perspective – this can be a pellet heating system or a hybrid heating system.
The use of gas heating via biogas could also be an alternative to heat pumps and the like in the future. Unlike hydrogen Biomethan an exchange gas, sums it up Manuel Maciejczyk – Managing director at the Fachverband Biogas e. V. – towards our editorial team. “It can be fed into the gas network without hesitation. The network and the consumers’ gas heating systems do not have to be converted for this.” But there is a catch: the capacities.
Use of gas heating via biogas: the important terms and facts
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Definition |
Biogas is a combustible gas. It is created by the breakdown of biomass. Biomethane is the processed biogas – CO₂ and other impurities are removed. Biomethane has properties similar to natural gas and can replace it. |
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main ingredients |
Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) as well as small amounts of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and other trace gases. The main component of biomethane is methane (90 to 99 percent) |
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energy content |
Biogas: about 21-24 MJ/m³; Biomethane: about 35-38 MJ/m³ |
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raw materials |
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Elements of a biogas plant |
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Advantages |
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Disadvantages |
Limited resource base (especially energy crops) and competition for land and lower efficiency compared to other renewable energies – there is also a possible odor nuisance |
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possible applications |
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potential |
Biogas and biomethane have great potential in the energy transition. They can replace fossil fuels and complement other renewable energies such as the heat pump. The great advantage of biogas is its compatibility with natural gas. |
Continue to use gas heating from 2024 thanks to biogas: Consumers are currently still facing a hurdle
According to information from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), the share of gas heating in Germany in 2021 was 34.3 percent. It is estimated that around half of German households still heat with gas. Maciejczyk: “By 2030 we can reach seven million households with biogas.” So the biogas option would only be for a fraction of households an option. In addition, the individual consumer has no influence on the expansion of biogas plants or the supply of biogas.
However, each owner is responsible for complying with the heating requirements. Compliance with the heating requirements is checked – fines are also imposed violations against the Building Energy Act (GEG) possible. Relying on promising heating systems such as biogas or hydrogen is therefore risky. In addition, owners with a gas or oil heating system should keep an eye on the replacement obligation – the currently applicable requirement should continue to apply from 2024.
Conclusion on gas and oil heating: Stay away from monovalent models – there is a risk of additional costs
The paragraph in the GEG obliges owners with a gas or oil heating system to replace the heating system after 30 years of operation. There are exceptions to the replacement obligation – but not every owner can make use of it. The conclusion: From the CO₂ price to the lack of biomass capacity and the obligation to replace it – there are many arguments against a new monovalent gas heating system. Especially since the policy for climate-friendly heating systems promises strong government funding from 2024 – specific details are already known.
The Greens parliamentary group in the Bundestag goes even further and provides grants of up to 80 percent of the total costs of a climate-friendly Heating in prospect. The planned heating law will soon be debated in the Bundestag. Here the plans can still be changed or even discarded completely. Economics Minister Robert Habeck recently brought a later point in time for the heating law into play. Changes to the plans are therefore conceivable.
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