The Federal Minister of Economics had announced additional subsidies worth billions in order to socially cushion the replacement of the heating system.
(Photo: IMAGO/Jacob Schröter)
Berlin In the coalition dispute about the future heating of buildings, the opponents have become so entangled that a quick solution seems unlikely. FDP parliamentary group leader Lukas Köhler told the Handelsblatt that it would always be better to develop the previous CO2 tax into a real emissions trading system from 2024 instead of “financing insanely expensive subsidy programs at the expense of taxpayers”.
It must now be “a technically clean building energy law on the way”. Köhler admitted that the situation was “something wrong”.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) had announced additional subsidies worth billions in order to cushion the exchange of heating socially. He had promised households with lower and middle incomes that switching to a heat pump from 2024 would not be more expensive for them than a new gas heating system.
Habeck was reacting to the criticism of the draft for a building energy law (GEG), which his house and the building ministry had worked out together. From 2024, the GEG is to stipulate a share of renewable energies of at least 65 percent for the operation of new heating systems, which would mean the end of pure oil and gas heating systems. The SPD, Greens and FDP had agreed on the 65 percent target in their coalition agreement.
It should not apply until 2025; However, in view of the energy supply crisis of the past year, the coalition partners agreed to bring the target forward by one year in order to reduce dependence on fossil fuels more quickly.
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Coalition critics, however, consider the draft for the GEG to be too inflexible. They warn against overburdening homeowners. In coalition circles it is said that the aim is to clear up the issue at the coalition committee on Sunday at the latest, so that the cabinet decision planned for Wednesday next week is theoretically possible. The responsible state secretaries from the ministries of economics, construction and finance are to sound out possible solutions today, Wednesday.
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Köhler said the goal is to achieve the goal agreed in the coalition agreement of a renewable share of 65 percent in newly installed heating systems “without placing an excessive burden on homeowners and tenants”. “Because in the end it is important to all of us to get people involved in climate protection. From the point of view of the FDP parliamentary group, the focus should be on market incentives, openness to technology and social support,” said the FDP politician.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr warned Habeck against promises that could not be kept: “I don’t think it’s feasible to push the price of heat pumps down to the level of gas heating,” Dürr told the “Bild” newspaper. A conventional heating system costs about 7000 euros, a heat pump can quickly amount to 20,000 euros. There would also be costs for remodeling. “I have no idea how this should be financed,” says Dürr.
SPD: Heat pumps are not always the best solution
The coalition partner SPD would like more flexible specifications in the Building Energy Act. “The almost exclusive focus on the heat pump brings with it problems. Of course, the heat pump is the best solution in many cases, but not in all,” said Timon Gremmels, rapporteur for the Building Energy Act for the SPD parliamentary group, to the Handelsblatt.
The alternative fulfillment options that should apply to existing buildings should also apply to new buildings, demanded Gremmels. “I warn against lumping everything together. There are also cases in new builds where the electric heat pump is not the best solution.” He also wonders “where the electricity for all the heat pumps, electric cars and the nuclear power plant replacement is supposed to come from on a cold winter’s day”.
Gremmels calls for the GEG to be closely interlinked with municipal heating planning: “Anyone who is faced with the decision to install a new heating system must know for sure whether they will soon be able to connect their house to a heating network,” said the SPD politician.
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