Renewable energy policy database and support

There are no RES-H building obligations directly supporting the use of heating systems from renewable energy sources. However, RES-H can be required indirectly through the energetic performance obligations. 

The thermal regulation 2012 obliges new buildings to comply with minimum energetic performance requirements as defined by the label BBC-Effinergie. Since 2012, the use of renewable energies in order to reach energetic performance requirements (including the use of sanitary hot water and heating devices) is mandatory for single-family houses (Art. 16 arrêté du 26 octobre 2010). The thermal regulation 2012 applies for new buildings as follows:

• For service sector buildings and residential buildings situated within a national renovation programme area: from 28 October 2011 
• For residential buildings situated within 500 meters of a national renovation programme area: from 1 March 2013
• For other residential buildings: from 1 January 2013

As far as existing buildings are concerned, buildings of the service sector and public service sector are obliged from January 2012 to improve their energetic performance until 2050 by a reduction in final energy consumption of 60% compared to 2010 (Art L 111-10-3 Code de la construction et de l´habitation), including by using renewable energy plants for heating purposes.