The federal government is planning a new law regarding wood – millions of homes are affected
The German federal government is planning to tighten the rules regarding wood heating systems, which could affect millions of homes. The new bill stipulates cutting subsidies for burning specific types of wood, which has sparked widespread criticism and concern across the country.
According to the proposal, the German government wishes to amend the Biomass Regulation (Biomasseverordnung). Under the plan, biomass power plants, wood-fired power plants, and even home heating systems will not receive government support when using types of wood that can be used in industry.
The affected categories include tree trunks, bark wood, industrial roundwood, as well as roots and logs. This comes at a sensitive time, as there are more than eleven million fireplaces and wood stoves in private homes in Germany, many of which were installed as a substitute for gas during the energy crisis.
The German Wood Energy Association and the German Sawmill and Timber Industry Association, along with forest owners' associations, strongly oppose the bill. They say that the term 'industrial roundwood' is unclear, and that a comprehensive ban would lead to the loss of important sales channels for forest owners, especially in cases of wood surplus. They also warn that biomass power plants may face fuel shortages.
Criticism is particularly focused on the planned ban on the use of roots and tree cutting for energy. These materials arise during the cleaning of orchards, the construction of forest roads, and the maintenance of electricity and gas lines. Industrial stakeholders say that energy recovery is often the only option due to pollution, and that banning it will create significant disposal problems.
The environmental organization NABU (German Union for Nature Conservation and Biodiversity) supports the reform, but believes it does not go far enough. NABU emphasizes that fresh wood should not be supported for burning at all, and should first be used for material purposes, then for energy only as a last resort according to the principle of "cascade use."
For private homes, the impact may be indirect but significant. Although subsidies primarily target large facilities, home systems also benefit from programs like BEG (federal funding for efficient buildings). Experts believe that large biomass power plants will be heavily affected, but the central question remains: Will wood fuel become scarcer or more expensive?