Heat pump industry voices concerns
Sales of heat pumps have drastically dropped lately. The heat pump industry is attributing this to the ongoing debate regarding the Heating Act and municipal heating planning, as well as property owners' lack of knowledge about gas prices. To address this issue, the government is planning to take steps.
The German Heat Pump Association has called on the government to step in and address the challenging market situation. Martin Sabel, the Managing Director of the association, said, "We anticipate that the federal government will intensify its efforts to promote the funding program and clarify the legal framework after the GEG amendment." The Building Energy Act (GEG) aims to drive the transition towards eco-friendly heating.
The German Heating Industry Association has reported that heat pump sales dropped by 52% in the first quarter as compared to the previous year. Sabel has described the issue as challenging for the industry. Manufacturers have invested heavily in production capacities over the last two years in response to sudden demand increases and recent policy changes.
Heat pump sales have seen a significant decrease due to various factors. Two years ago, consumers were highly concerned about the prices and availability of gas and oil. However, now that their concerns have eased, many people are no longer worried. Despite the fall in gas prices, they remain unstable due to the global situation.
Furthermore, increasing CO2 prices and the European Certificate Trading could lead to a significant rise in prices. This, combined with the uncertainty surrounding the Building Energy Act and municipal heating planning, has resulted in homeowners adopting a wait-and-see attitude.
The heated debates about the Building Energy Act finally came to an end with its implementation at the start of the year. Sabel is hopeful that the industry will experience growth in the near future. "We observe a significant level of interest in the technology: our information events are well-attended."
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The heat pump industry is advocating for the government to revitalize the funding program and clarify the legal framework, as outlined in the Heating Law and Building Energy Act, to tackle the decline in heat pump sales due to market uncertainties and property owners' apprehension related to gas prices. Despite the temporary decrease in gas prices, their instability and potential increases due to CO2 prices and European Certificate Trading continue to deter homeowners from investing in heat pumps.
