Energy transition: More money for research and construction

Several federal ministries launched new funding programmes and research initiatives in April. The common goal is to promote affordable and climate-friendly construction in order to advance the energy transition through energy-efficient and climate-friendly buildings.

The building sector accounts for around 40 per cent of Germany's final energy consumption and about one third of its CO2-emissions. At the same time, the potential for energy and CO2-saving big.

150 million euros for research

The Federal Ministries for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) and Education and Research (BMBF) are making 150 million euros available for the research initiative "Solar Construction/Energy Efficient City" as part of their energy research programme. Over a period of up to five years, these funds will be used to develop technologies that accelerate the expansion of energy efficiency and the integration of renewable energies.

In addition to technological aspects, the initiative also takes into account questions of demographic change in our society and is dedicated to the topic of sustainable and affordable housing. Furthermore, it is a contribution to the implementation of the project "Guideline Future City" of the BMBF. With this guideline, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research aims to promote innovations for the sustainable city.

New funding round for innovative building projects

In the new funding round, the "Zukunft Bau" research initiative of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) focuses on low-cost housing, energy efficiency and renewable energies in buildings and neighbourhoods. The focus is also on sustainable construction and construction quality, demographic change and new materials and technologies. For this purpose, the BMUB In 2016, funding amounting to 18.7 million euros was available for around 50 projects.

The deadline for submitting funding applications is 30 June 2016. Applications are open to all institutions and companies involved in innovative projects in the field of construction.

Since the "Zukunft Bau" research initiative was founded in 2006, more than 1,000 research projects have already been funded with almost 115 million euros in federal funds.

Maximum subsidy amount for builders doubled

Since the beginning of 2016, new buildings must meet stricter energy requirements. Since then, the annual energy demand must be 25 percent below the previously valid value. The higher requirements can be implemented sustainably through the use of modern heating technology and renewable energies.

To enable builders to make greater investments in energy-efficient buildings, the KfW renewed the "Energy-efficient Construction" programme as of 1 April 2016. The maximum subsidy per housing unit is now 100,000 euros, previously it was 50,000 euros. In addition to the 10-year interest rate reduction, a new variant with a 20-year fixed interest rate is offered. Furthermore, the builder-owner has a binding entitlement to a building assistance grant. In this case, they receive 50 percent (max. 4,000 euros) of the costs for energy planning and construction supervision by an independent expert.

In addition to the standards that continue to exist KfW-Efficiency House 55 and 40 will be the new standard "KfW-Efficiency House 40 Plus" has been introduced. This applies to buildings that generate and store energy sustainably and thus predominantly cover the remaining, low energy demand themselves.
The new repayment subsidies in detail:
- • KfW-Efficiency House 40 Plus: 15 percent of the loan amount, up to 15,000 euros for each housing unit
- • KfW-Efficiency house 40: 10 percent of the loan amount, up to 10,000 euros for each housing unit
- • KfW-Efficiency house 55: 5 percent of the loan amount, up to 5,000 euros for each housing unit.

The "Energy-efficient construction" programme is part of the programme funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology. CO2-building refurbishment programme. With the National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (NAPE), the funds for the CO2-Building Rehabilitation Programme increased to 2 billion euros annually by 2018.

Source: www.bundesregierung.de/...mehr-geld-fuer-forschung-und-bauen.html
(retrieval: 23.5.2016)

Keywords: DE-News, Renewable, Research, Funding, Climate protection, PlusEnergy house/settlement, Resource efficiency, Environmental policy

Hendricks: We can invest even more in the future. Budget of the BMUB grows to 4.07 billion euros

The federal government wants to significantly increase its spending on climate protection and the promotion of affordable housing in the coming year. "This is a key concern for the federal government, but also for me personally," emphasised Federal Minister Barbara Hendricks at the start of the Bundestag debate on her ministry's budget. According to the federal government's draft budget, the budget of the BMUB will grow to over four billion euros next year. Against the backdrop of rising refugee numbers, Hendricks pointed out that the federal government, federal states and municipalities are called upon to create more affordable housing. Significantly more money must be invested in social housing and affordable housing. The largest item in Hendricks' budget is therefore housing benefit, for which an increase of 200 million euros to 730 million euros has been estimated.

According to the draft federal budget for 2016, the overall budget for the BMUB to around 4.07 billion euros. This is around 205 million euros or 5.3 per cent more than in the current year. In addition to the housing allowance, funding for international climate protection projects, for research in the areas of the environment, construction and housing as well as for urban development funding has increased in particular. In addition, the BMUB 859 million over the next three years from the newly launched Future Investment Programme. This money will be used in particular for the national climate protection initiative, model projects for the construction of sustainable student and trainee accommodation, national urban development projects, the refurbishment of municipal facilities and age-appropriate housing.

Hendricks emphasised that there is a need for affordable housing in society as a whole. The influx of refugees is just one reason. Hendricks: "As a state, we have a responsibility to ensure that there is enough affordable housing available for everyone." This is why housing benefit will also be significantly increased from January. Around 590,000 people currently receive housing benefit. More people will be able to benefit from the increase next year. The BMUB assumes that the number of recipients will increase to around 870,000.

The minister put the need for new homes per year at at least 350,000. Hendricks: "It is absolutely clear that we need to invest significantly more money in social housing. I have therefore proposed at least doubling the compensation payments to the federal states totalling 518 million euros per year over the next few years." Hendricks was confident that this could be realised during the parliamentary deliberations on the 2016 budget. The Minister also proposed the temporary and regionalised reintroduction of declining balance depreciation. Hendricks: "We need the commitment of private investors. They should also help to provide rental flats in the affordable segment."

In order to provide additional support to the federal states and local authorities in the provision of refugee accommodation, the international climate protection initiative will play a central role. As part of the International Climate Initiative, investments to protect the climate and biodiversity will be increased by over 75 million euros to more than 338 million euros. Overall, Germany will double its international climate financing by 2020 and provide four billion euros by then.

Source (accessed 14/09/2015): www.bmub.bund.de/.../hendricks-wir-koennen-noch-staerker-in-die-zukunft-investieren/