Roadmap to achieve one heating without fossil fuels in Spain. The Heating and hot water decarbonisation platform has in Madrid the ‘Roadmap for renewable heating‘ for transformation of the residential heating and hot water sector in Spain by 2050.
100% renewable energy in heating equipment must be achieved by 2030, so that the sector meets the 1.5℃ target of the Paris AgreementNearly 70% of primary homes are now heated with fossil fuel systems. By 2050, 53% of heating equipment would be electric heat pumps, 32% would use biomass and other renewable fuels, and 15% would use solar thermal energy and other thermal renewable energy sources.
The Roadmap recommends expanding the targeted assistance programs energy recovery of homes and the large-scale use of renewable and highly efficient technologies such as heat pumps. A decarbonization of the housing stock in Spain, compatible with the goal to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C of warming. At the same time, it is possible to improve comfort and quality of life in homes, as long as the right measures are implemented immediately and quickly. Whether or not we achieve these objectives depends mainly on the level of commitment in the very short term, i.e. until 2030.
This is one of the most important conclusions of the «Roadmap for renewable heating«, a detailed study that shows the scale of change needed in this sector. The document, prepared by the Heating and hot water decarbonisation platformoffers concrete solutions and recommendations so that institutions can accelerate the transition to air conditioning systems based on non-fossil fuels. The Heating and Hot Water Decarbonisation Platform brings together business associations, research centers and professional and environmental organisations
The Roadmap analyzes four possible trajectories of decarbonising the home heating and hot water sector in Spainvisualizing different sections until reaching 2050. Of these four scenarios, the Platform indicates that it is necessary to bet on the most ambitious scenario, the one called “Zero net emissions«. This route is based on the premise that a route must be followed that is compatible with the ‘Net Zero Emissions Scenario for 2050’ of the International Energy Agencywhich in turn is consistent with limiting the increase in global temperature to 1.5°C.
According to the calculations in this scenario «Zero net emissions” of the Roadmap, From 2030, 100% renewable energy in heating equipment would be achieved. In 2050 the “thermal mix” would consist of: 53% high-efficiency electric heat pumps; 32% biomass systems and other renewable fuels; and 15% solar thermal energy systems and other thermal renewable energy sources.
This represents a profound change from the current situation, where almost 70% of main homes are heated with fossil fuel systems.. Specifically, 42% with fossil gas, 20% with diesel and 6% with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, mostly butane and/or propane), according to data from the Long-Term Strategy for Energy Rehabilitation in the Construction Sector in Spain (ERESEE).
Important measures for the transition to efficient and renewable heating
- Gradually replace the use of fossil fuel heating and hot water (DHW) systems in all buildings until 2030 by others based on clean energy sources. Replace 100% of existing electrical and biomass equipment within the same year with new generation equipment with better performance and high efficiency.
- By 2050, substantially increase the number of renovated homes above the ERESEE values, as well as preparing an additional 1.9 million homes that are currently secondary or vacant as primary residences. This would make it possible to maintain planned housing availability by halving the demand for new housing, thereby reducing embodied carbon emissions (the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the materials and processes needed to build buildings). to build and renovate) of the sector.
- All New-build homes must be built under category A of the current energy efficiency certificate for buildings.
Key milestones of the Roadmap
- Significantly improve the energy efficiency of the real estate park through envelope reduction and rehabilitation actions in the most vulnerable sectors, both economically and climatically, to ensure that our built stock requires less energy to sustain itself and that all people can have adequate thermal comfort conditions.
- Increase the ambition of National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (TRUNK) 2021-2030 to be achieved by 2030As a minimum, 85% of the electricity mix is of renewable origin, instead of the 81% expected when the last draft was revised. This will further increase the contribution of renewable energy from electrically powered heat pumps – intended to replace a large part of fossil fuel-based heating systems.
- Replace fossil fuel heating and hot water equipment with renewable and ultra-efficient devices, such as heat pumps. In certain cases, such as rural areas with high biomass production, this system can be applied in a controlled manner. There are sources such as biogas for which the scope must be clearly defined, and others, such as green hydrogen, for which there is no place for use in heating and domestic hot water.
- Provide institutional support for district network development. Like heat pumps, these networks provide air conditioning (cold and/or heat) together with hot water supplied by the network to the buildings in an area. In Spain, only 0.15% of final heating demand is met by district networks, a minority that is still on the rise compared to the European average, which is estimated at 10%, or in certain cases such as Sweden and Denmark, which have 50 % reaches. and 65% respectively.
- Extend tools intended for the energy recovery of homes and the large-scale deployment of renewable thermal technologies, facilitating bureaucratic procedures to avoid administrative delays and ensure that people in vulnerable situations can receive the necessary financing. This will, in certain cases, require allowing advance payments of subsidies to the population that cannot make these initial disbursements.
- Improve the training of professionals so that you have qualified and specialized personnel. Public authorities also need to strengthen their staff to manage their procurement, as well as the resources dedicated to adequately subsidizing the change.
- Invest significantly in public information campaigns promoting renewable heating options and how these can benefit households, while discouraging the purchase of new fossil fuel boilers
Why is this heating decarbonisation roadmap necessary?
Buildings are responsible for 30.1% of final energy consumption and 25% of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere in Spain (source: GBCe). Having more energy efficient homes would significantly reduce families’ bills and improve their health and quality of life. Domestic heating and hot water are the energy applications that require the greatest efforts to achieve decarbonization, as these systems are currently mainly powered by fossil fuels.
In addition, the revision of the European Energy Efficiency in Buildings Directive (EPBD) stipulates that the entire built park must be emission-free by 2050, as well as the abolition of support for individual fossil fuel boilers until 2025, and the complete replacement of fossil fuel boilers fuels by 2040.
About the Heating and Hot Water Decarbonisation Platform
The Heating and hot water decarbonisation platform, born in 2022, aims to promote a rapid and orderly transition to efficient and renewable heat production systems. Gaining access to manifesto. The driving members are AFEC, ASIT, CNI, Ecologistas en Acción, ECODES, Ecoserveis, Fundación Renovables, GBCe and Greenpeace.
Roadmap statements
Francisco Zuloaga, spokesperson for the Heating and hot water decarbonisation platform, notes: “This Roadmap It is the result of months of hard joint work between business and civil society. It offers a very complete vision of the decarbonizing the sector. And that vision tells us unequivocally that the coming years are essential to ensure that the transition is orderly and that all citizens benefit from it.”
Marina Gros, head of the gas campaign at Ecologistas en Acción, emphasizes: “The Roadmap shows that a complete transition to Heating without fossil fuels by 2030 is essential to achieve the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The government must act urgently and decisively to build a future where citizens can enjoy better health and comfort in our homes.”
Marta San Román, director of AFEC, the association of air conditioning equipment manufacturers, said: “The government has two crucial years ahead of it to encouraging renewable heating. The sector is ready for the transition and just needs a clear, solid and stable framework for action to strengthen investments and create new jobs.”