Roundtable on Heating and Cooling with Renewables in Germany – Developments and Expectations for a Rapid Heat Transition
Online, November 12, 2025 — In total 40 participants attended the national online roundtable on „Heating and Cooling with Renewables in Germany – Developments and Expectations for a Rapid Heat Transition“, hosted by the European Technology and Innovation Platform on Renewable Heating and Cooling (RHC-ETIP). The event, organised by WIP Renewable Energies, brought together experts from across Germany to share insights, innovations, and technology developments driving the energy transition.
Ecological and Economic Assessment of Heating Systems
Dr. Karl Anders Weiß from Fraunhofer ISE presented a comprehensive study of the project Projekt „Efficient Heating“ evaluating heating systems in Germany. The analysis covered ecological and economic aspects of various technologies, including heat pumps, gas boilers, pellet systems, and PV-based heating solutions for both new and existing buildings. The CO2-footprint of all investigated renewable systems were below 0,1 kg CO2-eq./kWhth, and thus much lower than natural gas systems. A challenge is that the initial investment costs are higher for renewable systems, however, over the whole lifetime, they perform very good. He emphasized the critical importance of planning security for investors to ensure long-term stability in the heating market.
European Platform for Renewable Heating and Cooling
Dominik Rutz introduced the European Platform for Renewable Heating and Cooling (ETIP RHC), supported by the European Commission. The platform develops recommendations for research programs, funding schemes, and technological advancements in heating and cooling at the EU level, aiming to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy systems. The work of the platform is based on the multi-stakeholder work or various technology and horizontal working groups. Interested persons and organisations can register for the free ETIP RHC membership (www.rhc-platform.org) and participate in the working group discussions.
Power-e-Com Project and Energy Communities
Ingo Ball and Benedikt Beinhofer showcased the EU-funded Power-e-Com project, which promotes the establishment and implementation of energy communities across several European countries. The Oberland region serves as a pilot area, where village heating systems are being developed as practical examples of community-based energy solutions.
Market Development and Heat Pump Incentives
Dr. Martin Sabel, representing the German Heat Pump Association, provided insights into the current market dynamics. He highlighted the currently rapid growth in heat pump sales in Germany, discussed the political framework shaping this trend, and addressed challenges related to subsidies and fluctuating energy prices.
Role and Potential of Biomass in the Heat Transition
Sabine Hiendlmeier from CARMEN e.V. explained the current significance and future potential of biomass—particularly wood—in Germany’s heat transition. Her presentation covered political, ecological, and societal dimensions, stressing the need for balanced strategies to integrate biomass sustainably.
Panel Discussion: Political Expectations and Challenges
Moderated by Ingo Ball, the panel featured Sabine Hiendlmeier, Karl Anders Weiß, Dominik Rutz, and Martin Sabel. The discussion focused on political expectations, the evolving funding landscape, and the necessity of planning security to achieve the goals of the heat transition. The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session. Key topics included:
- Climate neutrality of biomass
- Fine dust emissions from wood combustion
- Potential of biomass and heat pumps for grid relief
- Material use of wood versus energy use
- Investment cost trends and technological developments in heat pumps
Conclusion:
Since a few days, the German legislation on heating (Gebäudeenergiegesetz – GEG) has returned to the political spotlight after its highly debated introduction in 2023. This renewed discussion underscores a key insight shared by participants: stable framework conditions are essential—not only to provide planning security for industries but also to build public awareness and consumer trust.
The event made clear that the promotion of renewable heating technologies such as heat pumps, biomass, solar thermal, and district heating is vital for achieving climate neutrality and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. These solutions offer long-term economic benefits, energy security, and resilience against volatile energy markets.
However, the debate must remain fact-based and solution-oriented, rather than being dominated by populistic messages that oversimplify complex issues and create unnecessary fear. Populism undermines constructive dialogue and delays progress, while evidence-driven communication fosters confidence and accelerates the heat transition.
Only through transparent policies, reliable incentives, and informed public discourse can Germany ensure a socially fair, economically viable, and ecologically sustainable transformation of its heating sector.
