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27 organisations demand the phase-out of fossil-fuel boilers and a widespread roll-out of heat pumps, solar-powered technologies, and district heating in a letter sent today to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and executive vice-president Frans Timmermans. [1]
Access the letter, here.
In May, the European Commission announced it would seek to end the sale of ‘stand-alone’ fossil fuel boilers by 2029. The plans were included in the EU Save Energy communication, part of the REPowerEU plan. [2]
The phase-out of fossil fuel boilers should be set for an earlier date, signatories say.
Signatories include energy provider giants ENEL, EDP Energias de Portugal, and Iberdrola, as well as heat pump manufacturers, solar energy producers, and environmental NGOs. Signatories demand a massive roll-out of heat pumps, which should replace fossil fuel boilers.
Last year, a report by the International Energy Agency warned that bans on new fossil fuel boilers should be introduced globally as of 2025. [3]
New research confirms that phasing out fossil fuel heating through ecodesign by 2025 could unlock a massive reduction of 320 TWh in gas consumption in residential heating, corresponding to 8% of the total EU gas imports in 2020, and total greenhouse gas emissions savings of 75 Mt CO2eq. by 2030. This estimation is part of a recent study by Öko-Institut, commissioned by the EEB as part of the Coolproducts campaign. [4] [5]
Marco Grippa, Programme Manager on heating decarbonisation, Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), said:
‘Whenever a gas boiler reaches the end of its life, it should be replaced with a heat pump, solar hybrid appliances, or any other renewable and efficient alternative. EU countries must phase out the sale of new gas boilers – and ecodesign policies are the perfect tool for that. Electricity providers are ready; appliance manufacturers are ready. Politicians must show the market that they are ready, too.
EU leaders should say it out loud: we can become independent from fossil gas and step into a future of clean, affordable heating for all. A ban on fossil boilers is the first step.’
Davide Sabbadin, Deputy Policy Manager for Climate, European Environmental Bureau (EEB), said:
‘Member states and a large part of the industry are signalling their readiness for the phase-out of fossil-fuel boilers. The time is nigh for the EU to match these ambitions and demonstrate its commitment to the bloc’s climate targets and its energy independence. A phase-out date on the eleventh hour to the EU’s 2030 climate target deadline is simply too late’.
Signatories highlight the examples of countries already leading the transition. As of 2024, every new heating appliance installed in Germany, the largest market in Europe, will need to run on a high share of renewables, effectively banning stand-alone fossil-fuel boilers and boosting heat pump uptake.
Buildings in the Netherlands will be mandated to install heat pumps when replacing their heating systems or be connected to district heating as of 2026. Other countries, such as France, are following suit.
Heating appliance manufacturers are taking important steps, too. Many are building new production facilities and making significant investments to accommodate the sharply growing demand for heat pumps and energy-efficient air conditioners.
How big is the heat pump market?
Heat pump sales grew by 34% in Europe – an all-time high, according to figures by by the European Heat Pump Association reveal. 2.18 million heat pump units were sold in 21 countries – nearly 560,000 more than in 2020. This brings the total number of installed heat pumps in the EU to 16.98 million, covering around 14% of the heating market. [6]
List of signatories:
Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), CAN Europe, CLASP, E3G, Ecodes, EDP Energias de Portugal, European Environmental Bureau (EEB), European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), ENEL, European Partnership for Energy and the Environment (EPEE), Euro Heat and Power, Global Witness, Green Transition Denmark, GREENoneTEC Solarindustrie GmbH, Iberdrola, Kyoto Club, LUN Energy, Natuur & Milieu, Panasonic Heating & Cooling, PORT PC (Poland), REScoop.eu, Schneider Electric, Solar Heat Europe, Stiebel Eltron, Topten, Za Zemiata (Bulgaria), ZERO – Associação Sistema Terrestre Sustentável.
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