A Shift Towards Heat Pumps: Unveiling Germany's Residential Heating Transition
The majority of newly constructed structures in Germany largely rely on heat pumps for their heating needs.
Get ready for a cozy change! According to the latest facts, over two-thirds of the newly constructed residential buildings in Germany will be warmed up by heat pumps in the year 2024. That's a considerable increase from 2023, rising around five percentage points to a solid 69.4% [1]. Heat pumps have been on the rise in single and two-family houses, where they're the primary heating source for 74.1% of all such homes completed in 2024. In multi-family dwellings, the figure plunges to 45.9% [1].
The Gist of Germany's Renewable Energy Heating Landscape
Renewable energy sources have taken center stage in new residential buildings. Ground and air heat pumps, wood, such as pellet heating and fireplaces, and solar thermal energy are the main energy sources in 73.9% of the residential buildings constructed in 2024 [1]. A decade ago, this figure was a modest 38.5% [1]. With supplementary energy sources like wood stoves factored in, renewable energies heat four out of five new residential buildings (82.3%) in 2024 [1]. Natural gas trails closely behind as the second most important primary energy source, accounting for 15.0% of new buildings' heating. However, things look quite different for existing buildings, with over half (53.9%) of the existing dwellings being conventionally heated with gas [2]. Renewable energies play a comparatively minor role in heating existing buildings, constituting just 10.2% [2].
The Changing Scene: New Buildings vs. Old Habitats
New residential buildings might adopt heat pumps due to recent building codes and energy efficiency incentives. However, we don't have specific data on new buildings in Germany for your perusal. Retrofitting existing buildings with heat pumps brings challenges due to the existing infrastructure and higher upfront costs. But programs like the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund in other regions suggest that retrofitting can be successful with proper funding and support [3].
Looking Ahead: Embracing the Future
To meet climate targets, increased investment in heat pumps across Europe, including Germany, is imperative [4]. A hefty sum of at least €120 billion is required to bring more EU buildings up to energy-efficiency standards and deploy more heat pumps [4]. Research on ice-source heat pumps indicates their potential for densely populated areas, particularly in cold climates like parts of Germany, offering an intriguing prospect for both new and existing buildings [5].
[1] ntv.de, AFP[2] Statistisches Bundesamt, Germany[3] Eurostat[4] ING Germany[5] European Commission, DG Energy
- In line with the community policy for sustainable development, the focus on vocational training in renewable-energy sectors, such as heat pump technology, is increasing to meet the demands of the rapidly growing renewable-energy industry.
- The environmental-science community is conducting extensive research to optimize the efficiency of heat pumps, with a particular emphasis on ice-source heat pumps as a promising solution for providing renewable energy in densely populated areas and cold climates like parts of Germany.
- Financing remains a critical factor in implementing widespread vocational training programs and heat pump system installations in both new and existing buildings, as significant resources will be required to reach the climate targets set by various European nations, including Germany.
