Germany wants to ban the installation of new gas and oil heaters from next year to favor renewable energy sources, the Minister of Economy and Climate said on Thursday.
"
Nothing has been done for ten years
," said Minister Robert Habeck, who considers it "
urgent
" to accelerate the timetable initially planned for the replacement of the most polluting heating systems.
Olaf Scholz's government coalition had initially agreed on a ban from 2025 on heating systems that do not produce at least 65% of heat from renewable energies.
The project of a ban from next year, fanned last week by the press, is already causing controversy, including within the government where the liberal FDP party is asking the environmental minister to review his copy.
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Several billion euros of support
The new calendar would have “ disastrous
” economic and social consequences
, assured Christian Lindner, leader of the party and Minister of Finance, to the daily Bild.
This subject is added to a long list of bones of contention between the two partners of the coalition led by the Social Democrats: liberals and ecologists also display their disagreement on transport policy or questions of social assistance.
Switching from fossil fuels to greener technologies, such as heat pumps, would come with a multibillion-euro package of financial support for people who switch to green energy, Robert Habeck promised on Thursday. .
"
Climate neutrality should not and will not become a social issue
," he said.
A number of issues still need to be clarified before a final draft is presented, he stressed.
These include whether the industry will be able to meet the growing demand for heat pumps, a challenge that Robert Habeck believes is achievable.
By 2045, all oil and gas heating systems should be banned from operating in the country.
Europe's largest economy is engaged in an unprecedented transformation of its energy model involving a reduction in the use of fossil fuels, an exit from nuclear power and the accelerated development of renewable energies, with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.