German Law Supports Green Gases for Heating

Germany's parliament has passed the federal government's bill to standardise energy saving for buildings (GEG), a move welcomed by the country's gas lobby group Zukunft Erdgas June 19. 

Its spokesman Timm Kehler said the GEG was technology-neutral, expanding the options for the housing sector to reduce its carbon footprint. There had been fears that electrons would replace molecules.

Biomethane, previously confined to combined heat and power plants, may now also to be used in condensing boilers. "This brings us a great deal closer to the long-term goal of climate-neutral heat supply.... This sends a signal to homeowners in particular that with gas heating, they are not only relying on an inexpensive and reliable, but also on an environmentally friendly energy source. And with the additional consideration of synthetically produced energy sources, the necessary incentives are now being offered to establish the technologies required for the production of these green gases on the market," he said.

He added that the GEG also clears the way for "new, innovative technologies can be tried out on the way towards the climate target," including "neighborhood redevelopment concepts" and synthetic natural gas, generated with the help of renewable electricity.