Heat Pumps Conquer the New Construction Sector – Production Fluctuates

Germany is experiencing a revolution in the heating sector: newly constructed residential buildings are increasingly adopting heat pumps. Last year, nearly two-thirds (64.6 percent) of the 96,800 newly completed residential buildings were equipped with such electric systems. This represents a remarkable doubling compared to 2014. The trend continues, as the share for approved new buildings currently stands at an impressive 76.3 percent. Gas heating systems, once the dominant heating source for new constructions, now account for only 20.1 percent. Ten years ago, the share was twice as high. District heating follows at 8.2 percent, while nearly 5 percent of new buildings utilize other renewable energies such as pellets or biomass. Oil heating systems have nearly vanished from new constructions, found in only 0.3 percent of cases, equivalent to 300 buildings. Sustainability trends are also evident in the frequent use of renewable energies as supplementary heat sources, such as wood stoves. Overall, a commendable four out of five new residential buildings (79.6 percent) utilize renewable energies for heat supply, either primarily or secondarily. Despite these positive developments, the production of heat pumps in Germany saw some fluctuation in 2023. Although a total of 400,100 units were produced, marking a 14.0 percent increase from the previous year, quarterly figures show a decline. After a record of 132,000 units in the first quarter, production fell to 54,000 units in the fourth quarter. Foreign trade in heat pumps also decreased over the year. The main reason for this is the relaxed legislation on the use of renewable energies in the building sector.