The German Energy Wood and Pellet Association has criticized the planned ban on pellet and wood chip heating systems in new buildings. “The EU has confirmed the CO₂ neutrality of wood energy,” said managing director Martin Bentele to the newspapers of the Bayern media group. “The ban makes no sense.” He accused the federal government of a “funding confusion”. In Bavaria alone, more than a million oil heaters were still running. “Pellet heating systems are ideal here as a renewable replacement.” Central heating with wood or pellets will be banned in new buildings and made considerably more expensive and difficult in existing buildings, criticized the President of the Bavarian Forest Owners’ Association, Josef Ziegler. If a forest owner is no longer allowed to use his wood for heating, the CO₂ is created by the wood rotting in the forest. In the coming decades, spruce and pine forests would have to be converted. However, large amounts of wood could no longer be used in this way, as the income urgently needed for the forest conversion was lacking. “This draft law slows down the adaptation of our forests to a warmer climate. A very bad proposal in terms of climate protection,” said Ziegler.
Pellet heating – criticism of the planned ban – Economy
