Germany introduces new heating law: 'Bio-staircase' mandates gradual shift to renewable fuels

The Minister of Economic Affairs defends her draft, among other things, for more "bio" fuel. The Bundesrat will likely demand many changes.

June 11, 2026 — 3:58 PM

This technology is also to be allowed again in new buildings in the future: Oil heating Photo: imago

By Nick Reimer

"With the Building Modernization Act, we are drawing a line under a policy of mistrust." With these words, Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche (CDU) introduced the new heating law into the Bundestag this Thursday. The new law is intended to make it possible again to install fossil fuel heating systems. "Technological openness is not in opposition to CO2 reduction – quite the opposite," explained Reiche, "which is why we are introducing the bio-staircase."

It was one of the most important election promises made by the Union after the collapse of the traffic light coalition: We "liberate" the heating cellar. After the Building Energy Act of the traffic light government, it was practically impossible to install fossil fuel heating systems in new buildings; 65 percent of the energy used had to be emission-free.

The "bio-staircase" is a step-by-step path for new gas and oil heating systems: Anyone who installs a fossil fuel system in the cellar will no longer be allowed to heat with fossil fuels. From 2029, operators will be forced by the new law to gradually use more climate-friendly fuels such as biomethane, biogas, or later synthetic gases. Whether the heating systems can even handle these blended fuels, where they will come from in the necessary quantities, and what they will cost – all of this is unclear. According to this law, fossil fuel heating systems must blend:

• 30 percent climate-friendly fuels from 2035
• 60 percent climate-friendly fuels from 2040

"In the middle of the biggest oil price shock, you are telling people: Buy fossil fuel heating again," criticized Katharina Dröge, the parliamentary group leader of the Greens, in the debate. Both Trump and Putin would use fossil energy as a weapon. Dröge: "This law seems so out of touch with the times that it hurts." The basis of the law is "a spiral of anger that was instigated by men like Jens Spahn and Friedrich Merz three years ago."

Left Party Considers Lawsuit

Violetta Bock from the Left Party called the law an attack "on tenants, on future generations, and on the climate." However, with the introduction of the law, a line is by no means in sight in the heating cellar. "The Bundesrat has a committee recommendation with 67 items," a spokesperson told taz. This means: The committees of the state chamber criticize 67 points in the law.

The joint list of the Economic and Environment Committees is 59 pages long; the draft law is "technically deficient," "not practical," and causes "excessive bureaucracy and advisory effort." Hamburg, for example, is pushing for a state clause: The Hanseatic city wants to continue heating its buildings according to the traffic light law.

This Friday, the list will be debated in the state chamber, after which the requests for changes will go to the Bundestag. If the requests are not taken into account, the Bundesrat can convene the mediation committee.

A legal line is also not in sight: The Left Party is examining whether it can stop the new law with an expedited organizational lawsuit before the Federal Constitutional Court. After all, climate protection has constitutional status, said Violetta Bock: "Article 20a of the Basic Law implies a 'deterioration prohibition' for existing climate protection measures."

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