The end to gas furnaces is getting closer. The first restrictions are already in force

For years, replacing old coal stoves with gas heating was one of the ways to combat smog. Gas was treated as a cleaner solution than coal and convenient for users. Now, however, the European Union expects member states to gradually abandon this fuel in heating buildings.

The reason is climate goals and the desire to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Fit for 55 package assumes reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the EU by at least 55%. by 2030 compared to 1990. The next goal is to achieve climate neutrality in 2050.

Gas stoves without public subsidies

The first significant change is already in force. From 2025, public financial incentives cannot be used for individual installations based solely on fossil fuels. This means ending public subsidies for self-contained gas boilers.

However, support for hybrid systems remains possible. In such a solution, the main source of energy may be a heat pump or solar collectors, while the gas boiler plays an additional role in periods of increased heat demand.

An important deadline is 2030

Another change results from the amendment of the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings. From 2030, all new buildings in the European Union are to meet the zero-emission standard.

In practice, this means moving away from installing heating systems using fossil fuels in new buildings, including natural gas as the primary source of heating and hot water. Gas is therefore gradually losing its role as a transition fuel in the long-term energy strategy.

What instead of gas heating?

Heat pumps, especially combined with photovoltaics, are indicated as one of the key technologies of the future. Such installations are intended to reduce emissions and dependence on imported fuels, but their popularization requires large investments and access to financing.

At the same time, interest in heat pumps has waned in Poland. According to the Clean Air program data quoted in the material, over 53% chose it in 2023. beneficiaries, but later their share dropped to approximately 27%. applicants. In 2024, almost half of the funding applications concerned biomass boilers.

Gas and oil have lost support

From 2025, the catalog of expenses covered by public support and tax breaks has also changed. Gas and oil boilers are no longer the preferred type of financing, and more emphasis is placed on, among others, for energy storage.

You can still combine the Clean Air program with the thermal modernization relief, as long as the same expenses are not settled twice. The relief limit is PLN 53,000. PLN per person and 106 thousand PLN in the case of marriage.