German economy minister backs changes to controversial heating transition

Berlin, May 29 (CTK) – The draft law requiring every new heating system installed in Germany from 2024 to be powered at least 65 percent by renewable energy is set for major changes, including longer deadlines. Robert Habeck, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, agrees with the changes and has offered compromises in response to the controversy and coalition divisions sparked by the original proposal.

When the government adopted the draft law in mid-April despite objections from its coalition partner, the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of the beginning of the future of home heating. Habeck, a member of the coalition’s Greens and a strong advocate of replacing gas and oil-fired boilers with heat pumps, was also pleased. The liberals, by contrast, questioned whether the legislation would be passed swiftly by the Bundestag, as they disagreed with the plans.

The current draft provides that almost all newly installed heating systems will use 65 percent energy from renewable sources from 2024, such as solar or wind power. People over 80 will be exempt if they live in the property concerned. It will still be possible to buy gas boilers if they can be modified to burn hydrogen, which Germany expects to rely on in the future as a key fuel, particularly in industry. Existing fossil-fuel heating systems can continue to be operated and repaired if they break down. However, their operation will be permitted only until the end of 2044. Germany aims to become climate-neutral the following year.