Overview
- A Freshfields opinion commissioned by solar company Enpal and two Bundestag Wissenschaftlicher Dienst papers conclude the draft Gebäudemodernisierungsgesetz undercuts the 65% renewables rule and may be unconstitutional or incompatible with EU law.
- The federal Economy Ministry rejects those findings and says it has checked the bill for constitutional and EU compliance and will implement the EU Buildings Directive’s flexibilities to reach climate targets.
- The government draft would allow new and replacement fossil boilers to remain legal with a staged increase in biofuel blends instead of requiring systems to run mostly on renewables from installation.
- Major cities including Wiesbaden and Kassel have submitted municipal heat plans that map where district heating, large heat pumps and decentralized heat pumps should expand, but those plans remain non-binding for individual homeowners.
- Experts warn of practical risks from the draft: uncertain availability and higher cost of biofuels, possible higher long‑term retrofit bills if standards are rolled back, and political and legal fights that could delay the nationwide heat transition.