The phase-out of fossil fuel boilers is a set of policies to remove the use of fossil gas (or "natural gas") and other fossil fuels from the heating of buildings and use in appliances. Typically gas is used to heat water, for showering, or central heating. In many countries, gas heating is one of the major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and climate damage, leading a growing number of countries to introduce bans. Air source heat pumps are the main alternative.[1]
The International Energy Agency has said that new gas boilers (or gas furnaces) should be banned no later than 2025.[2] Many installations and appliances have a life-span of 25 years, leading for calls that the bans must take place immediately, or at latest by 2025, because otherwise targets of net zero by 2050 cannot or are unlikely to be reached.[3] However fossil fuels lobbyists are resisting phase-out.[4]
The following table lists different ban types in new or existing buildings.[5]
| State | Measure | Date | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Ban on gas, oil and coal boiler installation and heaters in new buildings. | 2023 | Further plan to ban oil and coal boilers in existing buildings. | |
| Belgium | Ban on new oil boilers and gas connections in Flanders in all new buildings. | 2025 | Only in Flanders | |
| California | Ban on new gas furnaces and water heaters. | 2030 | California Air Resources Board writing rules to implement.[6] | |
| Denmark | Convert all 400,000 gas boilers to district heating and heat pumps | 2029 | Use obligation and duty for renewable energy | |
| France | Oil and gas boilers banned in new buildings | 2023 | ||
| Germany | Ban on coal and oil boilers in existing buildings | 2026 | Aim to have 65% renewable energy in existing buildings from 2024 | |
| Ireland | Gas and oil boilers banned from installation. | 2025 | ||
| Italy | 60% renewables in new homes | 2022 | ||
| Luxembourg | No new gas and oil installations in new buildings | 2023 | ||
| Netherlands | Ban on connections to the grid for new buildings from 2018. | 2026 | Mandatory heat pumps from 2026 | |
| Norway | Ban on gas and oil in existing or new homes | |||
| Slovakia | Ban on sales and installation of new oil and gas boilers | 2023 | ||
| UK | Ban on gas and oil boilers in new buildings | 2035[7] |