Energy - Federal Council approves heat planning law in municipalities
The Bundesrat has approved the law on municipal heat planning. A motion by Bavaria to appeal to the mediation committee did not receive a majority. In a motion for a resolution, the federal states demanded more money from the federal government for heat planning in cities and municipalities. The funds provided to date were not sufficient.
The Bundestag has already passed the law. It supplements the Heating Act and is due to come into force at the same time as the latter on January 1, 2024. Large cities are to draw up heating plans by the end of June 2026, smaller cities and municipalities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants by the end of June 2028. Only once a municipality has a heating plan will homeowners have to ensure that their new heating system is powered by at least 65% renewable energy when it is installed. The new heating law will initially apply to new buildings within new development areas from 2024.
Geywitz: Homeowners need clarity
Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz (SPD) said in the Bundesrat that homeowners must make the most economical decision if their heating breaks down one day and they have to buy a new one. To do this, they need clarity as to whether they will be connected to a central district heating network or a local heating network in the next few years or whether they should look for their own decentralized solutions - such as a heat pump.
Geywitz said that the draft law does not contain any obligation to connect and use heating networks. The federal government is supporting the municipalities' heat planning with 500 million euros. Baden-Württemberg's Environment Minister, Thekla Walker (Greens), said that federal funding must be made permanent and expanded.
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- The Federal Council's approval of the heat planning law will affect various cities and municipalities across Germany.
- The new law supplements the Heating Act and will be enforced simultaneously on January 1, 2024.
- Large cities have until June 2026 to draw up their heating plans, while smaller cities and municipalities with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants have until June 2028.
- Under the new law, homeowners in these municipalities will need to ensure that their new heating systems are powered by at least 65% renewable energy.
- Federal Building Minister Klara Geywitz stressed the importance of clarity for homeowners regarding their heating options.
- She mentioned that the draft law does not obligate homeowners to connect to or use heating networks.
- The federal government is supporting the municipalities' heat planning with an initial investment of 500 million euros.
- Baden-Württemberg's Environment Minister, Thekla Walker, advocated for making this funding permanent and expanding it.
- Countries around the world are also focusing on heat planning and turnaround in response to climate challenges, not just Germany.
- Consumers should also consider the broader impact of their energy choices on climate, in addition to cost-effectiveness.
- Germany's Ministry of Construction and Housing is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Heat Planning Act in the Bundesrat and Bundestag.
- Berlin, as the capital of Germany, will also need to adhere to the new heating laws and develop a plan accordingly, promoting the use of renewable energy sources in heating systems.
Source: www.stern.de
