Germany crosses threshold of one million heat pumps

Germany has reached a milestone in its quest for more climate-friendly heating by installing more than one million heat pumps, according to price comparison website check24. Sector association BWP estimates that heat pumps have reduced CO2 emissions by a total of almost 17 million tonnes. To stay on track to reach its climate targets, the country will have to reach the threshold of 2 million heatpumps within two years, the association has said. Germany's first heatpump was installed more than fifty years ago.

The use of digital technologies to control heating is also making headway in German households, according to German state-owned KfW Development Bank. One in five German households uses smart home technologies to lower energy consumption, a doubling since 2018. "Most frequently, intelligent control is used for heating (12%), less frequently for light (8%) and electricity (6%)," the bank said. However, the bank also found reservations against the technology. "Around 45% of households that do not yet use smart home technologies said they cannot imagine doing so. Fears about data protection often play a role, but costs are also an obstacle."

With half of all homes heated by natural gas and an ageing population of oil-fired heating systems waiting to be replaced, the heating sector is attributed with "enormous potential" to cut CO2 emissions. Germany's more-than 40 million homes emit over nine percent of total emissions – most of which by far arise through the heating of rooms and water.