EU to ban gas boilers in new builds by 2030

The European Union is keen on proposing a new heating tax, working hard to craft the necessary legislation. The proposal, engulfed in controversy, aims to eliminate gas boilers from our homes. But when will this gas boiler phase-out occur? We're still waiting for the details, yet a project draft hints at what's to come.

Significant transformations are expected in the EU's building heating sector. With the amendment to the EPBD directive, the use of fossil fuels for heating buildings in the EU will be prohibited. This rule will result in the gradual discontinuation of gas boilers. So, what are the critical dates to keep in mind?

The European Union changes in gas boilers legislations

Starting in 2025, new installations of gas boilers will not receive funding, except in cases where they are the sole source of heat. The subsequent years will bring even more changes.

By 2027, gas boilers will incur a new tax, and by 2030, their installation will be banned in new constructions.

By 2040, in line with the EPBD directive amendment, EU buildings will be forbidden from using fossil fuels for heating.

This direction poses a significant challenge, especially considering that the Clean Air program's subsidies have facilitated the purchase of 230,000 gas boilers since 2018.

While currently, gas heating might be more economical than heat pumps; predictions suggest a drastic shift post-2030. Tobiasz Adamczewski of the Energy Forum advises against new gas boiler investments, citing future high bills due to emission charges as a deterrent.

New rules outlined in the EPBD directive amendment will enforce stricter carbon dioxide emission standards for buildings. The prohibition against heating with fossil fuels will be phased in, initially affecting new constructions from 2028 and then extending to existing buildings undergoing significant renovations between 2035 and 2040.

The impending ETS 2 charge, starting in 2027, is expected to inflate heating costs substantially. This development represents a considerable challenge for both the construction industry and homeowners, who are urged to prepare for the new regulatory landscape.