CO2 price rises: consumer advice centers warn against installing new gas heating

CO2 price rises: consumer advice centers warn against installing new gas heating

According to a report from www.welt.de, the EU plans to only allow heat pumps when installing new heating systems from 2029. This would mean that oil and gas heating systems would no longer be allowed to be installed in Germany from this point onwards. The Association of Consumer Advice Centers has already warned of rising prices for gas and oil due to the increased CO2 price for fossil fuels. The price for a ton of CO2 is expected to rise by 17 percent to 35 euros in 2024, which will affect the costs for the consumer. A gas heater produces around 200 grams of carbon dioxide (CO2) per kilowatt hour, which amounts to around two tonnes of CO2 when 10,000 kilowatt hours are consumed. This would mean a CO2 surcharge of 70 euros next year.

The consumer advice centers have pointed out that the prices for heating systems have risen drastically in Germany in recent years. The average price for air-water heat pumps rose from 20,000 euros in 2021 to 31,000 euros this year, while pellet heating systems increased in price from 27,000 to 37,000 euros in the same period. The price for installing a gas floor heating system also increased from 6,000 to 10,000 euros.

This price increase is due to both the increase in raw material and energy costs and high demand. According to Stefan Materne from the consumer advice center's energy advisory service, market conditions are overheated, which could lead to further price increases. If the EU's new regulation comes into force, this will lead to increased demand for alternative heating systems, which in turn could lead to further price increases due to supply and demand. Consumers must therefore expect significant price increases when installing new heating systems.