From the age of 30, oil and gas heating systems actually have to be replaced. But there are exceptions for many.
Several hundred thousand old oil and gas heating systems will also have to be replaced next year due to their age. This emerges from the answers of the federal government to a request from the Union faction, about which the “Augsburger Allgemeine” reports. According to this, around four million oil and gas heating systems will be 30 years old in 2024; part of it must then be replaced according to the Building Energy Act. This has been the case for a long time and has nothing to do with the replacement of the heating system now being sought by the federal government.
In order for Germany to achieve its climate goals, the then black-red federal government had initiated the Building Energy Act. It has been in force since 2020 and regulates, among other things, the gradual farewell to oil and gas heating. The red-green-yellow federal government wants to reduce heating with fossil fuels more quickly and has decided to change the law.
According to the draft, from around the beginning of 2024, every newly installed heating system would have to be operated with at least 65 percent green energy. This should apply to all owners up to the age of 80. Existing oil and gas heating systems can continue to be operated, and broken ones can be repaired. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the changeover is to be cushioned socially by funding – the details are, however, controversial.
There has been a heated debate since the cabinet decision. Criticism comes within the governing coalition in particular from the FDP. Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) wants to meet with MPs from the SPD, Greens and FDP on Tuesday and explore a possible compromise.
There are extensive exceptions to the previous replacement obligation. A good half of the four million heating systems affected have comparatively efficient low-temperature or condensing boilers and are allowed to continue running. A further 860,000 oil and 630,000 gas heaters only have to go when there is a change of ownership.
Source: Stern
