what does it cost? And is it something for Amsterdam?
What does the cabinet want?
The cabinet wants the hybrid heat pump to become the standard from 2026 when the central heating boiler is due for replacement, it announced on Tuesday. It provides 150 million euros in subsidy annually for this purpose. In good conditions, it is also possible to switch directly to a fully electric heat pump, which does not use natural gas at all. In addition, municipalities are making plans to connect neighborhoods to a heat network, a network of underground pipes that generate hot water flow. Then you no longer need your own central heating boiler in the house. In the Netherlands, about 400,000 homes are connected to a heat network.
The pace of housing must be increased, says Minister Hugo de Jonge (Living). The ‘built environment’, as it is called in jargon, is responsible for 13 percent of CO2– emissions, the greenhouse gas that causes climate change. Other large amounts are mobility (19 percent) and agriculture (16 percent), according to figures from Statistics Netherlands.
It has been internationally agreed on the date on which total emissions will be halved in 2030 and back to 0 in 2050. In addition, the Netherlands, just like western countries, wants gas from Russia for political reasons. On Tuesday, De Jonge mainly pointed to the sky-high prices for consumers: “It is better for everyone’s wallet if we use less natural gas.”
What is a hybrid?
A central heating boiler burns gas to heat water, which is then pumped through radiators or used for showering. A hybrid heat from the outside air and electricity. It’s called a hybrid because the central heating boiler kicks in when it’s too cold outside. The central heating boiler also provides hot water in the bathroom and kitchen. Over the whole year, with a hybrid heat pump you save about 60 percent on your gas consumption.
A hybrid heat pump that is sufficient for the homes, including installation, is available from 5000 euros. With government subsidy, you can currently recover 30 percent of the cost. That investment also reduces your energy bill, because you use much less gas.
Is every home suitable for a hybrid heat pump?
Most homes do, but Alexander also needs extra insulation, says sustainable building consultant and co-founder of Energyparty.nl, a company that organizes information evenings at people’s homes. “Otherwise, the central heating boiler often has to take over and it makes less sense.” Flats can also be a problem. Joint purchase and installation is possible through the Owners’ Association, but then everyone has to agree.
are there enough heat pumps and installations?
Not at this moment. Due to a shortage of pumps and personnel at installation companies, the extension can be extended to 18 months. That personnel shortages also play a role in those who have boiler problems with boilers. The cabinet has therefore made agreements with the sector that production will be significantly increased. For example, three extra factories will be built in the Netherlands.
Why is the government demanding a hybrid and not a ‘full’ heat pump?
That would cost homeowners much higher costs, says Van de Beek. “Then you have to make a lot more changes to your home, such as high-quality insulation of floor or wall heating.” A hybrid heat pump when the central heating boiler needs to be replaced is a logical intermediate step, he says. “You want to make these kinds of investments at a logical moment, when you are replacing something.”
Is the hybrid heat pump also something for Amsterdammers?
Certainly in some neighborhoods, but an alternative to the central heating boiler requires a different treatment in a big city than in a well-maintained home or an average residential area. Amsterdam has much more little space in the house, pronounced roofs with less space for solar panels and many neighbors to take into account, which sometimes turns out to be a source of noise nuisance. The electricity grid is also already having a hard time here.
For more than half of the city, therefore, a heat network is the most obvious choice if these neighborhoods switch off gas, according to a study commissioned by the municipality two years ago.
A hybrid heat pump can of course save a lot of energy before it is time to go completely off gas. This applies even more to a number of older neighborhoods in and around the center, which are not going to use natural gas at all for the time being. A hybrid heat pump already saves a lot of energy. This is also essential for the long term. For these neighborhoods, for the period after 2040, heating on green gas, generated from organic waste from sustainably generated hydrogen, has been considered, but the supply of hydrogen is very expensive for the time being.