The renewed approval by the German authorities of gas boilers for heating buildings shows that there are no grounds to fear a rapid withdrawal of these appliances from the market – they will remain an important part of heating systems for many years to come. The energy transition will consist not in eliminating heating appliances, but in the gradual decarbonization of the fuel through a blend of biomethane or hydrogen. This is very important information for those considering a choice of heat source.
Key facts
- Germany is changing its approach to building heating and is once again allowing the installation of gas boilers.
- The new regulations will move away from the mandatory 65% RES share in heating systems.
- From 2029 a Bio-Treppe mechanism will be introduced, that is a gradual increase in the share of low-emission fuels in the gas network.
- Modern condensing boilers are prepared for blends of natural gas with hydrogen or biomethane.
- In Poland, gas boilers still rank among the most frequently chosen heat sources in residential buildings.
A turn in Germany’s energy policy
Germany is changing course on building heating. The federal government is announcing a return to more flexible regulations on gas heating. New regulations, which are to enter into force by the end of the first half of 2026, will once again allow the installation of gas boilers, which indicates that they are an extremely important transitional stage in the energy transition.
For the installation industry, heating-appliance manufacturers and individual investors this is a clear signal: gas is not disappearing from the European energy mix, but will gradually evolve toward low-emission fuels.
Why is Germany changing its approach to building heating?
The new assumptions of the Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz (GMG) act provide for a move away from the earlier requirement that new heating systems had to be based 65% on renewable energy sources. After the new regulations are introduced, it will once again be possible to install gas boilers in homes.
At the same time a “Bio‑Treppe” mechanism will be introduced – a gradual increase in the share of low-emission fuels in gas networks from 2029. This means that in the future natural gas will be replaced to an ever greater extent by biomethane, hydrogen or other climate-neutral fuels.
This solution makes it possible to avoid sudden technological changes and gives building owners greater freedom in choosing a heating system.
Are modern gas boilers prepared for green fuels?
The development of heating technology means that today’s condensing boilers can be adapted to operate with blends of natural gas and renewable fuels. – The energy transition does not mean eliminating gas boilers as a heating technology, but a change in the character of the fuel itself. What is key is the decarbonization of gaseous fuels, including the development of biomethane and hydrogen. The condensing boilers currently manufactured by Termet are technologically adapted to combust gas with a hydrogen blend, which means they are ready for upcoming changes in regulations and in the composition of gaseous fuels – stresses Żaneta Lisowska, Group Brand & Marketing Manager at Termet S.A.
What is the situation of gas boilers in Poland?
Despite the lack of subsidies from the Clean Air (Czyste Powietrze) program, condensing gas boilers remain one of the most frequently chosen heat sources in residential buildings in Poland. The reason for such investor decisions is their significant advantages:
- high energy efficiency,
- a relatively low investment cost,
- no emissions of particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10.
In many regions of the country, replacing old solid-fuel boilers, so-called kopciuchy, with modern gas appliances has contributed to improved air quality and a reduction in emissions of harmful substances.
Poles’ attitude to gas boilers remains clearly positive. The 7th edition of the EKObarometr survey, conducted by the SW Research agency, shows that excluding gas boilers from the Czyste Powietrze program is incomprehensible to many Poles. More than half of respondents (51.5%, and in rural areas 54.3%) believe that this type of appliance should still be covered by the support system.
– The costs of the energy transition, as across Europe, are also absorbing Poles today. That is the source of their positive opinion of LPG, a cost-effective fuel that at the same time makes it possible to improve air quality – comments on the survey results Bartosz Kwiatkowski, director general of the Polish Liquefied Gas Organization (Polska Organizacja Gazu Płynnego).
Which heating systems will dominate in the future?
Industry experts indicate that the future of building heating belongs to hybrid systems that combine different technologies:
Such solutions make it possible to increase a building’s energy efficiency, lower heating costs and prepare the installation for future changes in the fuel mix.
The change of approach by the German authorities shows that gas will still be an important part of the European energy mix – especially as a transitional technology supporting the development of renewable energy sources and low-emission fuels.
More expert opinions on the situation in the heating industry can be found in Akademia Ciepła -Termet S.A. on YouTube: