2023-05-30 08:42:53
Dhe legal plans for more climate protection in buildings have caused a lot of discord in the traffic light coalition and beyond in recent weeks. Now the Green Economics Minister is ready to talk about important adjustments. Robert Habeck wants to meet traffic light deputies from the SPD, Greens and FDP this Tuesday and explore compromise lines for the Building Energy Act. His new state secretary, Philipp Nimmermann, will also start work after Pentecost.
Habeck had previously emphasized that he hoped that the discussion would now take “a constructive, solution-oriented” direction. Time is running out to bring the draft law, which was initially blocked by the FDP, to the Bundestag. The next session week starts on June 12th. If possible before the summer break, the set of rules, also known as the Heating Act, should be passed by Parliament.
The plans aim that from the beginning of 2024 every newly installed heating system must be operated with at least 65 percent green energy. Alternatively, you can also switch to climate-neutral heat from a heating network. The switch should be socially cushioned, there should be transitional periods and hardship regulations.
Design of the funding
There could now be adjustments to the start date. Instead of applying to all buildings from January 1, 2024, the beginning could initially only apply to new buildings. More time could be allowed for old buildings. There is also some leeway with the approved heaters, for example with the further use of wood or wood pellets. Openness to technology is an important requirement of the FDP. Even more importance could now be attached to district heating, especially in the cities where the development is dense.
Last but not least, it is about a more generous design of the subsidy, for example for a heating switch, as well as the exceptions to the obligation to switch. The SPD in particular wants a clear social component here.
The head of the BDEW energy association, Kerstin Andreae, called for a “substantial improvement” to the draft. It was a mistake not to seek dialogue with practitioners early on, Andreae told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Above all, the infrastructure had not been considered enough in the previous plans. For example, heat pumps are not operated evenly throughout the year, but are particularly strong in winter. “This is a huge challenge for the power grid,” Andreae warned. It is also unclear to many energy companies what will become of their gas network if less and less gas is consumed.
The German Association of Cities said that the expansion and conversion of municipal heating networks must also be funded. “It’s good that Minister Habeck is now talking about a district heating offensive. For this, the planned subsidy programs will have to be adjusted again,” said Managing Director Helmut Dedy of the “Rheinische Post”. In addition to individual funding for homeowners, the expansion and conversion of municipal heating networks should also be funded.
In the run-up to the talks, it was difficult to assess the chances of reaching an agreement in the near future. It also remained unclear whether and how the public should be informed on Tuesday. The new State Secretary Nimmermann could set the tone. The economist succeeds Patrick Graichen, who had to give up the post because of the mixing of official and private matters.
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