The cabinet announces that green requirements will be imposed on the heat installation from 2026. Minister Hugo de Jonge for Housing says that the pace at which houses must become ‘greener’ must increase. ‘It is also better for everyone’s wallet if we use less natural gas. That is why the cabinet wants the hybrid heat pump to become the standard from 2026 when the central heating boiler needs to be replaced.’
The hybrid heat pump is seen as an ‘intermediate step’ to a completely gas-free house. It is installed next to the central heating boiler and heats the house for about 60 percent with electricity instead of gas. The central heating boiler provides the hot water and intervenes when it is so cold that the heat pump cannot handle it alone.
Subsidy
Until 2030, there is a subsidy for home owners to help them purchase a sustainable heat installation. At first, the government thought that no subsidy would be needed from 2026. There is an exception to the green requirement for homes that are not suitable and homes that will soon be connected to an alternative to natural gas.
Interest group Natuur & Milieu calls De Jonge’s promise ‘good news’. According to the environmental organization, both the climate and households with hybrid heat pumps will improve. “It will also lead to lower energy bills,” said a spokesperson. ‘In a time of high gas prices and uncertainty, an extra advantage.’
Problem: long waiting times
A major problem, however, is that the waiting times for having a heat pump installed are very long. Consumers who order a pump now have to wait up to a year and a half. Before the war in Ukraine, the installation sector was already very busy, partly due to a shortage of personnel. There is also a shortage of water pumps themselves.
The cabinet has therefore promised to help the installation sector to cope with the pressure. In order to significantly increase production, three extra factories are being built in the Netherlands where heat pumps are made. The government will also help train more installation technicians.
Unlike a fully electric heat pump, a hybrid pump also works well in moderately insulated houses. Most houses are already sufficiently insulated for a hybrid pump. It is a lot more affordable than its all-electric counterpart. So the only costs are for the device itself and the installation costs. According to the Consumers’ Association, these are between 4 and 7 thousand euros.