The federal government wants to pass the new heating law – but without first defining one of the central climate rules: the green gas quota. The law, now known as the Building Modernization Act (GMG), is expected to be passed by the cabinet in March.

But the quota is still on the waiting list; concrete key points could only be available in August. This emerges from a written question from the Green Bundestag member Alaa Alhamwi to the federal government, which is available to FOCUS online Earth. Previously had the news portal T-Online reports.

New schedule for the “organic stairs”

When presenting the GMG, the federal government initially gave the impression that the green gas quota – also known as the “organic staircase” – was already an integral part of the new law. The organic staircase is intended to provide step-by-step how much green gas – such as biomethane or green hydrogen – must be used in heating systems in the coming years until 2045. It therefore serves as a central control mechanism for the climate-friendly conversion of buildings.

According to the request, Gitta Connemann (CDU), Parliamentary State Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Affairs, informed the Bundestag’s Committee for Economic Affairs and Energy about the new schedule on February 25th. Accordingly, the GMG should be passed by the cabinet on March 25th – without the green gas quota that has been developed. The Bundestag resolution is planned for July 1st. The green gas quota should be available by August.

“Seems confusing at best”

When asked by Green MP Alaa Alhamwi, State Secretary Frank Wetzel basically confirmed this schedule. The federal government is currently still examining how the quota can be implemented legally and practically – especially with regard to the availability and costs of green gases. According to Wetzel, key points for implementation should be presented “by the summer”.

“The planned green gas quota seems confusing at best,” says Alhamwi to FOCUS online Earth. “The ministry is supposed to implement it, but can currently neither quantify the costs nor say whether enough green gas will be available. At the same time, the question arises: If key points are not to be clarified until the summer, what does the federal government actually want to decide on in the GMG?”

The SPD is also dissatisfied with the coalition partner’s schedule. The abolition of the old 65 percent rule and the introduction of the new quota must take place at the same time in order to give consumers and companies planning security, warns SPD energy politician Nina Scheer to T-Online.

What’s behind the green gas quota

The green gas quota is intended to replace the previous 65 percent rule for renewable energies for new heating systems. According to current plans, from 2029 at least 10 percent of the gas used for oil and gas heating will come from renewable sources such as biomethane or green hydrogen.

The long-term plan is to gradually increase the quota to 100 percent by 2045. However, the exact intermediate steps and concrete implementation are still pending – also because the Ministry of Economic Affairs still has to check whether enough gases will be available at all.