Stop selling gas central heating systems by 2021, lobby groups say

Plumbers, manufacturers, green groups and several energy firms have proposed removing traditional gas fired central heating from sale by 2021, the Volkskrant reported on Wednesday.

Instead, home owners should be required to install heat pumps or hybrid systems when old central heating boilers need replacing, the organisations say.

Supporters of the plan include the central heating sector body Uneto-VNI, manufacturers, Greenpeace and Milieudefensie, GasUnie and sustainable energy lobby group NVDE.

Some 350,000 new boilers are installed in the Netherlands every year.

The measure would up the bill for households considerably, the Volkskrant points out. Traditional boilers cost around €2,000 but electricity-powered heat pumps will set home owners back some €9,000. Hybrid boilers, with a small gas system for very cold days, cost around €6,000.

Subsidies and service contract-based loans would help home owners pay for the changes, the organisations say.

The Dutch government has set a target of ensuring one in four Dutch homes no longer relies on gas for heating or cooking by 2030.

According to the AD, the government is likely to adopt the plan, given its targets and the decision to slash gas production from the Groningen fields.