As of: February 28, 2024, 5:38 a.m
By: Christoph Kastenbauer
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Take a critical look at the boiler in your own home: Anyone who heats with oil or gas should know what the new regulations will mean.
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The new energy law has been in effect since the beginning of the year.
However, there are exceptions for owners of oil and gas heating systems.
The rules at a glance.
Munich – There is often great uncertainty among owners in Germany.
The new Energy Act (GEG) came into force at the beginning of this year and, as is well known, its core content is the future ban on oil and gas heating.
But owners who continue to rely on fossil fuels have not yet received a letter in threatening official language.
The reason: The GEG provides some exceptions, according to which such heating systems can continue to be operated for a few years.
It is widely known that there are exceptions.
What is challenging, however, is their complexity, i.e. when, where, how and in what context the regulations apply.
These are therefore clearly broken down below.
General ban on heating with fossil fuels only from 2045
First things first: If you don't live in a new building and have a functioning gas or oil heating system, you can sit back and relax.
Only from 2045 will there be a general ban on the operation of heating systems that run solely on fossil fuels.
Basically, the “where” is an important factor in determining when exceptions take effect – and when not.
In new buildings, renewable forms of heating are actually mandatory from now on, at least technologies that are powered by 65 percent or more renewable energy (Section 71 GEG).
But heating from 65 percent renewable sources can now also become a requirement in older buildings - if there is municipal heating planning at the location in question.
With this, a city or municipality discloses in detail what the future heat supply within the respective area should look like in the future, for example via district heating connections.
This regulation is intended to provide municipalities and property owners with mutual planning security in the area of energy supply.
But don't panic: The obligation for owners to connect to district heating or other heating only comes into effect when the old heating system breaks down or a new one is voluntarily installed.
Obligation to provide advice on new gas or oil heating
If municipal heating planning is still a long time coming, you can still have gas or oil heating installed in your older house.
The requirement, however, is that the property owner seeks advice from an energy consultant, heating engineer or chimney sweep before installing the heating technology, which can also be operated with e-fuel.
Because the respective model must also deliver reliably in the future: from January 1, 2029 at least 15 percent heat from renewable sources, from January 1, 2035 at least 30 percent and from the beginning of 2040 at least 60 percent.
Of course, climate change in this country does not work through bans alone.
More funding from the federal government should make it more attractive for owners to switch to renewable heating technology.
Those wishing to restructure can apply for appropriate funds from the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA).
In addition, the state development bank KfW wants to provide more support for heating renovations in the future - including with a new grant.
(Christoph Kastenbauer)
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