The Green party is escalating its push for expanded state subsidies to facilitate the installation of heat pumps, specifically targeting low-income homeowners who are currently excluded from the transition to climate-friendly heating systems. Felix Banaszak, co-leader of the Greens, argued that existing support mechanisms, while successful, are insufficiently tailored to address the diverse financial circumstances of individual households. He emphasized that homeownership alone does not guarantee the financial resources necessary to undertake the substantial investment required for heating system replacements.
A faction within the Greens, spearheaded by Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz, a leading candidate in the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt state election, proposes a significantly more radical approach: initially free heat pump installations for those unable to afford even a minimal contribution or secure financing from the KfW development bank. This proposal, outlined in a motion for the Green party’s federal convention, directly challenges the notion that access to sustainable heating should be contingent on upfront financial capacity, arguing that trapping vulnerable individuals in “fossil cost traps” is unacceptable.
Sziborra-Seidlitz envisions a system allowing individuals who lack the means for either a personal contribution or KfW pre-financing to receive heat pump installations free of charge, potentially through zero-interest loans with extended repayment periods. The proposal highlights a deepening political divide surrounding Germany’s heating transition.
Banaszak has accused politicians from the conservative bloc (Unions) of waging a “culture war” against heat pumps, specifically criticizing Economics Minister Katharina Reiche (CDU) for promoting what he deems an ideologically driven discussion about cuts to heating subsidies. He further pointed to CSU leader Markus Söder as aligning with Reiche in opposing more generous support measures, characterizing their stance as a collaborative effort. The escalating rhetoric underscores the growing tension surrounding the implementation and financing of Germany’s ambitious climate goals, particularly as the burden of these transitions falls on individual households.