On March 12, the European Parliament supported the compromise negotiated in December 2023 following the legislative path regarding the content of the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Once approved by the Council of the European Union, the new directive will be published in the Official Journal of the EU and will enter into force.
Ban on gas stoves. “The EU’s approach does not eliminate any heating technologies”
The EPBD aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption from buildings across the European Union. By specifying requirements for newly constructed or renovated zero-emission buildings (ZEB), it also defines what heat sources can be installed in buildings with these characteristics. “The vote on March 12 did not change anything in the content of the directive, which we recently analyzed in terms of the installation of gas boilers on our website. The directive does not prohibit the installation of boilers” – .
We are satisfied with the final form of the regulations regarding the admissibility of installing heat sources in buildings. After a long discussion, the European Union has adopted an approach based on technological neutrality, which does not eliminate any of the heating technologies available on the market from buildings. The EPBD allows Member States to choose a basket of solutions that best meets the needs of their societies – from the perspective of income, quality of building resources and climatic conditions
– indicates the organization.
Gas boilers. Hybrid systems can still be installed
The first step will be to suspend, from 2025, financial subsidies for replacing heat sources with stand-alone boilers – i.e. not combined with other heat sources – powered exclusively by fossil fuels. It will still be allowed to offer financial incentives for hybrid systems with a significant share of renewable energy sources (RES), such as a combination of a gas boiler with a solar collector or a heat pump. This means, for example, changes in the popular Clean Air program, which from now on could finance gas boilers only if they work in combination with renewable energy sources.
In zero-emission buildings (new and modernized after 2030), it will not be possible to use stand-alone boilers powered exclusively by fossil fuels, including coal, natural gas and LPG of fossil origin. It will still be possible to install hybrid systems consisting of a gas boiler and other renewable energy sources (such as solar collectors or heat pumps). In newly constructed or renovated zero-emission buildings, it will also be possible to install boilers powered by renewable fuels, because, according to the EPBD regulations, they will be treated in the same way as renewable energy sources installed locally.
The EPBD also calls on Member States to develop plans to phase out stand-alone fossil fuel boilers from the market by 2040. However, this date is not binding.
The European Union has agreed to phase out stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels. By the end of 2024, the European Commission is to issue guidelines for member states. It is expected that they will include a recommendation for a minimum share of biocomponents, which would allow the heating device to be excluded from the category of boilers powered by fossil fuels.
Replacing gas boilers will not always be necessary. Conditions must be met
In the case of existing buildings, boiler users will not have to replace the heating installation if it allows the use of an increasing admixture of biocomponents, such as biomethane or biopropane. “In the light of the EPBD directive, they will be treated equally to other heating devices powered by renewable fuels, such as heat pumps,” explains the Polish Liquefied Gas Organization. The directive will exclude, among others: summer cottages, historical buildings, religious buildings, workshops and non-residential agricultural buildings and military buildings.
– We have the tools to support the transformation. We have systemic programs that support the exchange of heat sources. We are also working on Clean Air reform to speed up and optimize this program. We are determined to help people in transformation, which is demanding in terms of finances, but also in terms of changing their thinking – .
As he explained, modernizing buildings towards low emission should ultimately be profitable. People are to be convinced by, among other things, lower bills. – We will primarily show the economic calculation. They made sure that the change was profitable for ordinary people. (…) Profitability is a very tempting prospect, assured Różyk.
Source: Gazeta
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