
From 2028, fuel suppliers should gradually add climate-friendly fuels, but municipal companies are warning of bottlenecks and rising prices.
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The green gas quota is intended to supplement the Building Modernization Act, which reformed the previous Building Energy Act (GEG).
The so-called green gas quota is intended to supplement the new heating law. According to this, suppliers should be obliged from 2028 to add a growing proportion of climate-friendly fuels to supply private households. The quota should start at one percent and rise to 100 percent by 2045.
Municipal companies warn of bottlenecks
While the new heating law, known as the Building Modernization Act, sets requirements specifically for consumers on the one hand, the green gas quota applies to fuel suppliers on the other. The entire heating gas and heating oil sales to private households should gradually become climate-neutral by 2045. The green fuels provided through the quota should be able to be counted towards the requirements of the new heating law.
The green gas quota is controversial not only because of the planned exceptions for the economy. As a result, households with corresponding thermal baths also incur additional costs. The Association of Municipal Companies (VKU) also warned of bottlenecks in green fuels and possible price increases. “So far there has been no answer from the federal government to the central question of where the additional amounts of green gases should come from,” said VKU Managing Director Ingbert Liebing. He called for a biomethane strategy to expand domestic production and imports as well as clarity about the consequences for consumer prices.
A spokeswoman for Katherina Reiche's (CDU) Ministry of Economics explained that the ministry believes the available potential is sufficient. It referred to relevant reports. The ministry emphasized that the green gas quota should trigger investments and save an additional two million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2030. If there are significant bottlenecks, the quota increase can be adjusted. The goal of a complete changeover by 2045 remains.
The Building Modernization Act, in turn, reformed the previous Heating Act. This overturned the core of the existing Building Energy Act (GEG). Accordingly, new heating systems had to be powered by at least 65 percent renewable energy. In many cases this amounted to a ban on installing new oil and gas heating systems.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Adjustment of the quota increase in the event of significant bottlenecks.
Possible · Within years

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