Starting in 2025, tax breaks for gas boilers will no longer be allowed. This is the goal set by the Epbd (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) directive that came into force on May 28. The issue to be resolved is what exactly is meant by a fossil fuel boiler, something that will be clarified by the guidelines that the European Commission technicians are putting down in black and white.
According to a less rigid interpretation of the directive, hoped for by countries such as Italy, since gas boilers are potentially able to use certain percentages of renewable gases, such as green hydrogen or biomethane. All current devices capable of making the switch should be able to access incentives even after 2025, but according to environmentalists this type of system should be excluded.
The draft guidelines
The guidelines, which should give the States more precise indications on how to reach the targets set by the directive and on what the margins of flexibility are, should be published shortly. According to a first draft, the content of which was anticipated in an article in Sun 24 Hours, as regards the definition of which types of boilers can no longer be encouraged, we are moving towards a fairly restrictive interpretation of the indications of the directive «Where the local network mainly transports natural gas, the installation of boilers will not be encouraged. Where, however, the local network mainly transports renewable fuels, the installation of boilers can receive financial incentives”, writes the Sun 24 Hours. «That is, at least 51% renewable fuel, such as biomethane, must physically arrive in the apartment where the boiler is installed to obtain the tax bonuses».
Also according to what was anticipated by the economic daily, the stop from January 2025 should apply to any form of incentive, from contributions for those who purchase and for installers to tax breaks that can no longer be granted for the installation of gas systems.
The final farewell in 2040
The definitive farewell to gas boilers, however, will start from 2040: the elimination will be gradual. States in their national building renovation plans will have to define the policies and measures they intend to implement to achieve this objective.
The political game
The roadmap is quite tight, however it cannot be ruled out that it will undergo revisions. The new EU Commission which will take office at the end of the year could decide to revise some dossiers. In particular this of “green houses” which many right-wing parties, which saw their support increase in the recent European elections, have committed to changing.
