In the new building energy law, the installation of pure wood heating systems in new buildings is to be almost completely ruled out from 2024. The FDP does not want to accept that. But environmental groups are pushing for it.
In a joint appeal, several environmental organizations warn against a greater role for wood as a fuel in the new heating law.
Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Greenpeace, Nabu, Robin Wood and WWF criticized the fact that one combustion technology based on coal and gas could be replaced by another that was also harmful to the climate. The use of wood in stoves endangers climate goals and biodiversity.
The draft law for the controversial heating law passed by the federal cabinet provides for a ban on wood heating in new buildings. Wood should only remain an option in existing buildings where other solutions are not feasible or sensible, for example because of monument protection.
FDP: “Wood must remain allowed”
Most recently, the FDP had called for more options for heating with wood. “Wood chips and pellets are renewable energy sources, and heating with wood must remain permitted, and also in new buildings,” said parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens) had recently shown himself to be willing to compromise.
“Already today, the forests in Germany and globally are overexploited with correspondingly devastating consequences for biodiversity,” the environmental organizations said in a statement. “Forests are increasingly threatening to become a source of CO2.” They warned: “If the world’s energy requirements were only covered with wood, the forests of the world would be almost wiped out after one year.” In addition, the use of wood to generate heat is particularly inefficient and releases fine dust, among other things.
Wood may only be used for heating in exceptional cases if there is no alternative. “If the demand for pellets continues to rise, the domestic sawmill residues will not be sufficient in the foreseeable future and imports will have to be resorted to more frequently. In many pellet-exporting countries such as Estonia or Romania, reports of fellings in species-rich natural forests are already increasing.”
Source: Stern
