First details known
Ampel wants to cap subsidies for heating exchanges
07/04/2023 8:19 p.m
In addition to the so-called heating law, there is also an accompanying motion for a resolution to be voted on in parliament on Friday. The draft shows how the traffic light coalition intends to cap the eligible investment costs for heating replacement.
The traffic light coalition wants to cap state subsidies for the installation of climate-friendly heating systems. “The maximum eligible investment costs for replacing the heating system are 30,000 euros for a single-family house,” says the draft of a joint motion for a resolution by the SPD, Greens and FDP, which passed the parliamentary groups in the afternoon. Switching to climate-friendly heating systems is to be subsidized with up to 70 percent of the investment costs. For heating systems that can be operated with hydrogen in the future, only the additional costs for the “H2 readiness” of the system are eligible.
“Combustion heaters for gas and oil are still not being subsidised,” said Greens Vice-Chairman Andreas Audretsch. “It’s about social promotion of the switch to climate-friendly heating systems.” The application is to be decided by the Bundestag on Friday with the Building Energy Act. The Federal Government is thus given guidelines for funding. She is asked to submit the funding concept to the Budget Committee of the Bundestag by September 30th.
The views of the Bundestag on political issues are expressed in resolutions and the Federal Government prompted to behave in a certain way. Resolutions are not legally binding, but have political significance.
According to the application, the maximum eligible costs for apartment buildings should be EUR 30,000 for the first residential unit, EUR 10,000 each for the second to sixth residential units, and EUR 3,000 each for the seventh residential unit. In the case of homeowners’ associations, the regulation should be applied accordingly, in the case of non-residential buildings, similar limits based on the number of square meters apply.
The controversial building energy law stipulates that from 2024 installed heating systems can be operated with at least 65 percent renewable energies. This should only apply to the heating exchange in the existing building when there is a municipal heating plan that also shows whether a connection to district heating or a hydrogen network will be possible. These heating plans should be available throughout Germany by mid-2028 at the latest.