LiviosThe number of new heat pumps in Flanders is increasing, but the continued popularity of the gas boiler continues to hinder a faster rollout. This is evident from figures from grid operator Fluvius and research by VITO/Energyville. You would think it is strange that people still install a gas boiler, because the phasing out of fossil boilers is lurking around the corner. Why then the choice by many? Bouwsite Livios makes the decision.
Towards climate neutrality
The European Union’s Green Deal stipulates that we will make Europe climate neutral by 2050. The housing stock and our way of heating play an important role in this. That is why Europe decided to phase out fossil boilers by 2040.
Against this background, Flanders has decided that from 2025 it will be prohibited to connect new-build homes to the natural gas network.
After Germany, the Netherlands already announced to completely ban gas boilers from 2026: Will there also be such a ban in Belgium?
More and more gas boilers
Despite these prospects, gas boilers remain popular in Flanders, according to figures from grid operator Fluvius. Analysis of building permits up to June 2023 shows that the number of EPC declarations with a heat pump is on the rise. In the first half of 2023, there were just under 10,000 declarations. In 2022, there were a total of 21,402 declarations. This suggests that the declarations for 2023 will amount to a comparable number somewhere.
At the same time, it appears that more and more new gas boilers are being added in Flanders. This indicates that fossil heating methods are hindering the rollout of heat pumps and other sustainable methods.
Sustainable heating remains insufficiently attractive in Belgium. Expert: “Tax shift for energy is necessary.”
Skewed price ratio
The biggest explanation for this lies in the fact that electricity is still many times more expensive than fossil fuels such as gas and heating oil. The skewed distribution of taxes and levies, to the detriment of electricity, is the basis for this. Despite the extremely high efficiency of heat pumps, gas heating remains financially cheaper. The investment in a heat pump therefore does not pay back quickly enough.
Age and degree of insulation
With the phasing out of fossil boilers in prospect, this does not mean that you have to replace your gas boiler in a hurry. If it is a properly functioning condensing gas boiler, there is little reason to do so. But if the gas boiler is nearing the end of its life or breaks down, investing in a heat pump is worth considering.
Gas boiler broken or worn out? These are your options according to the regulations and your budget.
A new question then arises: is your home sufficiently insulated to heat it at a low temperature (up to a maximum of 50 to 55 °C)? Only then will your home be future-proof and ready for gas disconnection.
Read more: This way you heat efficiently at a low temperature.
Hybrid heat pumps
For those who have a home that is not yet sufficiently insulated, investing in a hybrid heat pump is a worthy alternative. This model can heat your home comfortably, efficiently and sustainably for most of the year. It only uses fossil fuels on the coldest days. As a result, your heat pump does not have to be able to meet peak demand in winter. A smaller and cheaper system is sufficient.
As you further renovate your home in the future, the heat pump can take on an increasingly larger share of the annual heat demand.
Hybrid heat pumps: price, premium and payback period
Does a heat pump make noise? Expert examines six myths about the heat pump
The national heating survey: will we heat differently after the energy crisis?
This article was written by our partner Livios.be, an expert site that focuses on construction and renovation.
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2023-12-28 15:10:00
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