01/04/2024
Source: Energy & Management Powernews
The German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB) believes that the deadlines for completing heat planning, which apply from this year, are too short. There is not enough planning capacity for this,
The Federal Government wants to use the Municipal Heat Planning Act to ensure that all German municipalities develop a path to climate-neutral heating by 2028. The Building Energy Act (GEG), which also applies with immediate effect, generally stipulates that from 2024, all newly installed heating systems must be powered by 65% renewable energy. However, this initially only applies to new buildings for which a building application is submitted from January 2024.
There are transitional periods for existing buildings and new buildings outside of new development areas, which are to be coordinated with municipal heating planning. This should be available from mid-2026 in large cities and from mid-2028 for the remaining municipalities. Based on the local authority's plans, homeowners will then have to achieve at least 65% renewable energy when installing a new heating system.
At an interview with journalists in Berlin, Uwe Brandl, President of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB), described these deadlines as impossible to meet. "There is simply not enough planning capacity if all municipalities come at once," he said. Brandl, who is also the first mayor of the Lower Bavarian town of Abensberg, therefore called for the deadlines to be extended. In addition, priorities must be set in the use of financial resources.
Heat transition just one of many tasks
By 2030, 30 percent of existing heating networks are to be operated using renewable energy or unavoidable waste heat or a combination of these. By 2040, the proportion should be at least 80 percent, and then 100 percent by the end of 2044. From 2045, buildings may only be heated using climate-neutral renewable energies.
"We have various crises that overlap with each other," said Brandl. It's not just about climate protection. The dilapidated infrastructure of roads and educational facilities and the influx of refugees and asylum seekers are also placing great demands on local authorities. Added to this are climate adaptation measures such as flood protection.
As a way out, Brandl mentioned a reduction in social benefits. According to the CSU politician, there are ways to make savings here "without putting people in need". In the last 20 years, expenditure on social benefits had doubled from 35 to 70 billion euros. He therefore suggested that benefits such as accompanying children to school should no longer be granted regardless of income. "That could save 1,500 euros per person per month," said Brandl. He does not want to suspend the debt brake, but does want to set clear spending priorities.
Change to Basic Law required
He would also like to amend Section 91a of the Basic Law in order to establish joint responsibility for issues that currently lie solely with the municipalities. "Increasing performance promises that cannot be financed and cannot be fulfilled within the set time frame is out of date," said Brandl. He fears that this will only lead to frustration among the population. "Continuing like this will not work," concluded Brandl.
André Berghegger, new executive member of the DStGB, added to the demands by calling for better reliability of state and federal funding. "Migration and integration are overburdening the municipalities," warned the CDU politician. There is hardly any accommodation available for the 600,000 new arrivals of the last two years.
In view of the tight housing market, the accommodation from the 2015-16 refugee wave is occupied. Daycare centers and schools are also overwhelmed by the growing number of children, said Berghegger. He also praised the EU immigration compromise and German efforts to limit immigration.
Author: Susanne Harmsen
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