For a heating transition in buildings, the federal government wants to move away from fossil fuels from Russia while promoting climate protection at the same time. In addition, an attack on the installation of heat pumps as an alternative to fuel oil and gas heating is planned.

However, a major problem is the lack of skilled workers. Economy Minister Robert Habeck said the target is six million heat pumps by 2030, after a virtual “heat pump summit” with companies and associations. 150,000 heat pumps were installed in Germany last year. It should be 500,000 by 2024. It is achievable.

According to the ministry, there are currently about one million heat pumps installed in Germany. But in 2021 their share in newly installed heating systems was just under 17 percent – ​​the market share of gas heating systems was around 70 percent. Habeck has made it clear that the generating capacity of the heat pumps has been significantly increased. “But of course there are also a number of specific problems that need to be resolved.”

First of all, there is the problem of skilled workers, from labor to production. To attract more skilled workers, more training will need to be further supported and training tests will need to be adapted. There is also immigration from abroad.

Building Minister Klara Geywitz said the energy-efficient urban redevelopment and redevelopment of cross-building districts should be developed together through two financing programs through state bank KfW. Heat transfer should also be affordable.

Heat pumps draw most of the energy for heating from the environment, such as air and groundwater. They need electricity for the drive and pump to make the heat usable. Electricity must come from renewable energies. According to the ministry, interest in heat pumps has increased sharply recently, so there may already be long delivery times and bottlenecks in installation and grid connections.

Heat pumps work well in new buildings, says energy expert Lamia Messari-Becker of the University of Siegen. “But the challenges of climate protection lie in the existing structure.” Here, buildings, energy quality or infrastructure are so different that there can be no single solution. The federal government should urgently authorize various technical means.

This is a fatal mistake, you need to rely more on biogas or geothermal energy.

IG Metall has demanded better working conditions from craft companies so as not to jeopardize the federal government’s climate targets. “Two-thirds of young, well-educated workers in skilled occupations migrate to other sectors,” said Ralf Kutzner, board member.

DGB board member Stefan Körzell said, “For a heat pump attack there would be enough well-trained experts. But due to poor working conditions and pay, they turned their backs on the trade. We need to win back these experts for the energy transition, turning the people involved in crash courses that last several weeks into close butlers. instead of bringing