Dena calls for a clear course towards the heating transition

13.01.2025

Source: E & M powernews

Fossil fuels continue to dominate heating. This is reported by the German Energy Agency (Dena). However, energy consultations and the construction of climate-friendly buildings are booming.

With its Building Report, the German Energy Agency (Dena) presents figures and trends on climate protection in the German building sector at the start of the year. The report provides data on the building stock from the 2022 census, new construction, heat generation, emissions, energy consumption and subsidies. According to the report, climate-friendly technologies predominate in new buildings, energy consumption in the building sector as a whole is falling slightly and there is an unbroken high demand for energy advice.

On the other hand, fossil fuels continue to dominate in existing buildings and their replacement is progressing only slowly. The Chairwoman of the Dena Management Board predicted from the data that Germany will once again miss its climate protection targets in the building sector. "Politics, business and society must work together to resolutely continue on the path of the heating transition," demanded Corinna Enders. According to the report, 79% of the almost 20 million residential buildings are still heated with oil and gas.

Demand for heat pumps slumps again

The proportion of heating systems that use renewable energies (biomass, heat pumps and solar thermal energy) was 10 percent in 2022. The replacement of fossil fuels is only progressing slowly in existing buildings. In 2023, around 65% of new residential buildings were equipped with heat pumps.

2023 was a record year for sales of non-fossil heat generators. These sales figures are not expected to be reached in 2024: sales of biomass systems fell by 74% in the first half of the year, while heat pumps recorded a decline of 54%. Projections also assume a significant decline for 2024 as a whole, according to Dena. "The Building Energy Act and the BEG set the framework for the climate targets up to 2045," the report reminds us, referring to federal funding for efficient buildings.

The authors of the report conclude that a general decline in heat demand in residential buildings since 2021 is positive and that consumer interest in energy-efficient renovations and climate-neutral construction remains high, based on the increasing number of requests for energy advice. With around 80,000 applications for energy advice for residential buildings in the first half of 2024, demand rose by 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

In terms of specific measures, heat pumps were particularly in demand: 570,000 applications for funding for heat pumps have been submitted since 2021, accounting for 51 percent of all applications to the BEG. The increased number of consultations shows the strong interest of owners in targeted support in order to make climate-friendly decisions. "In order to strengthen this willingness and trust, we must continue to provide comprehensive information on the framework conditions and technical possibilities," emphasized Enders.

Background to the Dena Building Report

The Dena Building Report is published as part of the "Building Forum Climate Neutral". This is the central point of contact for climate-neutral construction and renovation in buildings and neighborhoods. It is aimed at experts in this field and provides quality-assured information and tools from a network of specialist partners comprising industry associations and representatives from all regions of Germany.

The Dena Building Report 2025 is available for download as a PDF.

Author: Susanne Harmsen