RES-H building obligations (Quota)

Updated: 14.01.2019

Author: Tim Sternkopf

Owners of new buildings and buildings under renovation are obliged to use a particular share of heat and cooling produced from renewable energy (§ 3 par. 1 EEWärmeG). Public buildings are bound by this obligation as well and moreover, are required in terms of profound renovation (§ 2 par. 2 section 3. EEWärmeG) to fulfil the quota (also buildings of the public hand constructed and run abroad) (§§ 1a, 3 par. 1 -3 EEWärmeG). The quota applies to buildings with a floor space > 50m² that is heated or cooled (§ 4 EEWärmeG) with the exceptions of e.g. buildings for animal breeding, underground buildings, religious buildings etc. (§ 4 par. 1-11 EEWärmeG). The quota for heat and cooling produced from renewable energy varies according to the renewable energy source and whether it is a new building or a renovation of an existing building (§ 5 and § 5a EEWärmeG). Moreover, the quota can be fulfilled if more buildings belong together by ownership meeting the obligation in sum or certain compensation measures apply (§ 6 par. 1 EEWärmeG). The obligations for new buildings and renovation (§ 3 par. 1-2 EEWärmeG) are fulfilled if the heat and cooling demand is covered by 50% from installations using waste heat (Abwärme) or CHP as well as via energy savings or district heating/cooling (§ 7 par. 1 EEWärmeG).

Currently, no regulations exist for the mandatory use of renewable energy in existing buildings on the federal level, but federal states can adopt such regulations, e.g. Baden-Württemberg.

Exemption from the obligation is granted on grounds of technical barriers, contradiction with other tasks and obligations, indebtedness or preservation order (§ 9 EEWärmeG).

In the following an overview is given on the conditions the quota is met per renewable energy source:

Biogas:

New buildings: The quota (§ 3 par. 1 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the share is at least 30% (§ 5 par. 2 EEWärmeG) and produced in CHP installations (Annex II. 1. A) EEWärmeG).

Renovation: The quota (§ 3 par. 1 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the RES share is at least 25% (§ 5a par. 1 EEWärmeG) and produced in CHP installations or boilers of best available technique (Annex II. 1. B) EEWärmeG).

For biomethane extra regulations apply (Annex II. 1. C) EEWärmeG)

Biomass:

New buildings: The quota (§ 3 par. 1 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the share is at least 50% (§ 5 par. 3 EEWärmeG).

Liquid biomass:

The quota (§ 3 par. 1-2 EEWärmeG) for new buildings and renovation is fulfilled if heat or cooling is produced in boilers of best available technique (Annex II. 2. A) EEWärmeG). Moreover, extra regulations apply regarding the nature of the biomass used (Annex II. 2. B) EEWärmeG).

Solid biomass:

The quota (§ 3 par. 1-2 EEWärmeG) for new buildings and renovation is fulfilled if transformation efficiency is not below a certain threshold (86% for installations for the production of heat or hot water with a capacity ≤ 50 kW; 88% for installations with a capacity >50 kW; 70% for installations not serving the production of heat or hot water) (Annex II. 3. A) EEWärmeG). Furthermore, the quota is fulfilled if solid biomass is used in biomass boilers or automatic biomass ovens with water as heat-transfer (Annex II. 3. B) EEWärmeG).

Renovation: The quota (§ 3 par. 2 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the RES share is at least 15% (§ 5a par. 2 EEWärmeG).

Geothermal:

New buildings: The quota (§ 3 par. 1 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the share is at least 50% (§ 5 par. 4 EEWärmeG)

The quota (§ 3 par. 1-2 EEWärmeG) for new buildings and renovation is fulfilled if the following requirements are met:

  • heat is produced with an operating factor of at least 3.5 for air/water and air/air heat pumps (for all others the factor is at least 4.0) (Annex III. 1. B) EEWärmeG). In case the hot water production of the building is produced by heat pumps or other technologies using renewable energy sources, different operating factors apply: air/water and air/air heat pumps 3.3 (for all others the factor is at least 3.8) (Annex III. 1. B) EEWärmeG).
  • Heat pumps must be equipped with heat and electricity meters (Annex III. 1. C) EEWärmeG).
  • If the heat pump is powered by fossil fuels, the quota is only fulfilled if the operating factor is at least 1.2 (Annex III. 2. EEWärmeG).
  • Heat pumps must be certified either with the label “Euroblume”, ”Blauer Engel” or “European Quality Label for Heat Pumps” (Version1.3) or be in accordance with general European norms and regulations comparable to the aforementioned labels (Annex III. 3. EEWärmeG).

Renovation: The quota (§ 3 par. 2 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the share of renewable energy is at least 15% (§ 5a par. 2 EEWärmeG).

Solar thermal:

New buildings: The quota (§ 3 par. 1 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the share is at least 15% (§ 5 par. 1 EEWärmeG). In case of buildings with 2 flats, PV installations should have 0.04 m² collector surface per m² floor space. For buildings with more than 2 flats the ratio is 0.03 m² collector surface per m² floor space (Annex I. 1. A) EEWärmeG).

Renovation: The quota (§ 3 par. 2 EEWärmeG) is fulfilled if the share of renewable energy is at least 15% (§ 5a par. 2 EEWärmeG).

Compensating measures: The ratio is 0.06 m² collector surface per m² floor space (Annex I. 1. B) EEWärmeG).

Obligated entities

Owners of new buildings or buildings under renovation. Public buildings are stimulated to take an exemplary role.

Competent authority

The competent authority depends on the legislation of each federate state.

Further information

Obligation on regional level

EEWärmeG is a federal law. At Länder level, stricter rules can apply.

Germany

Further information

  • Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutzund nukleare Sicherheit (BMU) - Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservationand Nuclear Safety
  • +49 301 830 50
  • BMUB website
  • zentrale(at)bmu.de-mail.de

Basic information on legal sources