For For Brice Lalonde, President of Équilibre des Énergies: "The replacement of gas by carbon-free energy vectors, in particular electricity, is part of an extension of a historic evolution which has seen, in a few decades, households switch, for the heating of their homes, from coal to oil and then gas. The technique now makes it possible to approach this new migration, the climatic emergency prevents us from waiting and the war in Ukraine has only underlined the need for it. »
Équilibre des Énergies does not believe that biomethane is intended to replace fossil natural gas for heating homes. The biomethane molecule should be reserved for more noble uses: electricity production (especially at peak), chemical industry, mobility, combined production of heat and electricity for the agricultural and food industries, or even supplying heating networks.
Équilibre des Énergies is well aware of the technical and economic difficulties that can be encountered, in particular to migrate, in existing housing, to solutions based on heat pumps. But very significant progress has been made in recent years and many obstacles have been lifted. She believes that the decarbonization roadmap must take into account all industrial realities and their impact on the professions concerned.
In this spirit, Equilibre des Energies is associated with the adoption of the first objective aimed at the extinction of at least a quarter of the stock of gas boilers in the housing sector by 2030.
To achieve this, Equilibre des Energies recommends a set of measures listed in the appendix, extending those already implemented within the framework of RE2020 for new housing. Associated with precise monitoring by the National Office for Energy Renovation (ONRE), with a situation report carried out every two years, these measures should make it possible to achieve the objective set for 2030.
The twelve Energy Balance proposals for shutting down gas boilers in homes
Equilibre des Energies does not believe that an immediate and brutal ban is, in the current state of things, the most appropriate vehicle to achieve the desired objective. But it recommends the rapid adoption of a set of measures, which will constitute as many incentives for migration to low-carbon solutions.
- As part of a "review" clause of the RE 2020, tighten the ceilings adopted on maximum CO2 emissions in order to discourage any solution for circumventing the regulations allowing gas installations to continue, particularly in collective housing.
- In the DPE, as resulting from the decrees of March 2021, revise downwards the threshold of CO2 emissions triggering the transition to classes F and G. This threshold, currently set at 70 kg of CO2/m2.year , should be reduced to 50 or 60 kg of CO2/m2.year, so that the provisions relating to thermal sieves are extended to all very highly emissive dwellings.
- Impose, in the DPEs and in the audits, that the possibilities of migrating to non-fossil solutions for heating and domestic hot water be systematically mentioned and studied.
- In all aid systems, prohibit support for fossil fuel-based solutions. Eliminate reduced VAT rates in favor of gas boilers. Consider, on the contrary, the possibility of instituting special taxation on these boilers.
- Recalibrate the MaPrimeRénov' subsidies according to the two DPE criteria: the energy class and the climate class. Introduce, above a certain level of aid (eg €12.000), an obligation to audit before works and a simplified audit after works.
- Fit the air/air heat pumps into the support mechanisms. These pumps are effective means of circumventing the technical difficulties that air/water pumps may encounter in certain cases. Increase the support rates when associated with photovoltaic panels on the roof.
- Provide a precise framework for the use of hybrid systems (particularly hybrid heat pumps) in order to avoid abuse and the installation of alibi systems.
- Increase aid for the development of new systems, in particular heat pumps suitable for collective housing.
- Support, within the framework of the law on green industry, the development of new production capacities for heat pumps on national territory.
- Promote training in the trades essential to the migration of new heating solutions, with the priority emphasis on the training of trainers.
- Pronounce in the short term a ban on the installation of new collective boilers in areas served by heating networks supplied at more than 80% by carbon-free energy sources.
- At a date to be foreseen (post 2026), depending on the result obtained by the above measures, lower if necessary the maximum emissions ceiling set by decree no. 2022-8 of January 5, 2022 from 300 gCO2/kWh to 100 gCO2/kWh, thus making it impossible to install any new fossil fuel boilers, unless exceptions have been made. But such derogations will have to be accompanied by a system of declaration and random checks.
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