More and more cantons regulate the heating replacement according to the MuKEn specifications. Monovalent systems, especially heat pumps, are growing significantly as a result. This is shown by a current data analysis commissioned by the Energy Directors' Conference.
The revised Lucerne Energy Act has been in force since January 1, 2019. It regulates the heating replacement according to the current model regulations of the cantons in the energy sector (MuKEn 2014). In concrete terms, this means that anyone who wants to replace an oil or gas heating system with a fossil heating system must cover 10 percent of their energy requirements from renewable sources. According to MuKEn's standard solutions, for example, the new oil-fired boiler can be supplemented with a solar thermal system for hot water preparation.
As in other cantons, this requirement was discussed emotionally in Lucerne. Nevertheless, the yes to the new law was clear with almost 59 percent. So far, the new energy law has been well accepted, says Mattias Baumberger, an energy specialist at the Environment and Energy Service (uwe) of the canton of Lucerne. “Critical voices are rare. From time to time we hear that the specifications went too far. However, there is also feedback that the law should be more ambitious, »says Baumberger. For example, when it comes to replacing the heating system, it is criticized that compliance with the GEAK overall energy efficiency class D is sufficient to meet the legal requirements.
clear trend
Until the introduction of the new law, the 1:1 replacement of fossil heating systems in Lucerne was permitted without any further conditions. Some installers report that there was a real peak in oil and gas heating in 2018. But now the tide has turned. This is confirmed by systematically collected figures. A newly introduced obligation to report requires the builder to notify the canton of the energy source chosen for the heating when replacing the heating. Based on this data, the picture is clear. "There is a trend towards heating with renewable energy sources, especially heat pumps," reports Mattias Baumberger. With a good 1100 reported heating changes, one of the eleven MuKEn standard solutions was implemented almost 1000 times. The monovalent systems of wood firing, heat pump and district heating connection account for over 90 percent of this.
Conversely, this means: Monovalent systems with renewable energy sources are much more common than the combination of fossil and renewable energy sources (bivalent systems according to the MuKEn standard solutions). There are two reasons for this with uwe: The first is the low cost. The 1:1 replacement that was so common in the past was easy, says Baumberger: “In many cases, people probably didn’t even consider alternatives. The new law requires this engagement with renewable energy sources, which often leads to a complete changeover.”
The second reason is financial. If you look at the life cycle costs of a heating system, i.e. also take into account the energy and maintenance costs in addition to the investment costs, it is often cheaper to use renewable energy sources. In addition, the cantonal subsidy was supplemented. The Canton of Lucerne has been promoting heat pumps since 2019, and small wood burners since 2020. "Furthermore, fossil fuel heating systems have become more expensive in inefficient buildings because a standard solution also has to be implemented," explains Baumberger.
Switzerland-wide trend
What can be observed in the canton of Lucerne also applies to other stands that the MuKEn have already put into effect. This is shown by the data analysis "Effects of the MuKEn heating replacement regulation on the choice of heating medium" (see info box). It was carried out on behalf of the energy directors' conference by the real estate consulting firm Wüest Partner. One of the authors of the study is Jörg Schläpfer, Head of Macroeconomics at Wüest Partner.
A total of around 40,000 planning applications submitted between January 2010 and December 2019 were evaluated. Jörg Schläpfer summarizes the findings as follows: “The nationwide trend is moving away from fossil heat generators. The market share of heat pumps is increasing significantly, particularly in those cantons that are already implementing MuKEn.”
A look at the Swiss-wide data confirms the impression from Lucerne: Instead of bivalent, MuKEn-compatible heating systems, the owners mainly rely on monovalent systems with renewable energy sources. «The MuKEn do not ban fossil heating. However, if you want to keep them, you have to make additional efforts, while the purely renewable heating solutions are simpler,” comments Schläpfer. In addition to this regulatory aspect, there is also the political development of the last year to consider: “The protests of the climate youth have led to a noticeable change in thinking and even to the tightening of the CO2 law. Due to the political discourse about the heating media and climate change, many owners have dealt with the various heating systems in the first place.» Your own contribution to climate protection, for example by not using oil or gas heating, will become much more concrete for the individual if your own canton implements the MuKEn.
positive signals
Suissetec, which supported the cantons in developing the MuKEn, welcomes this development as a contribution to the successful implementation of the energy strategy. "We are convinced that heating with renewable energy sources offers many advantages," says Robert Diana, head of the heating department at Suissetec. With the new "renewable heating" program, which was launched by SwissEnergy at the beginning of 2020, there is an important tool: "By showing builders with fossil-based heating good alternatives, we can reduce the urge to use 1:1 replacement."
Diana comments on the trend towards monovalent systems with renewable energy sources rather than bivalent MuKEn model solutions: “When developing MuKEn, the cantons were looking for a moderate way to get end customers away from fossil fuels. In the cantons that have already implemented the MuKEn in their energy law, we see a clear preference for renewable energies. Suissetec welcomes this development because it is an important contribution to a decarbonized building sector.»
Wüest Partner is ready to expand the analysis, as Jörg Schläpfer says: "This year, other cantons will implement the MuKEn. The data basis is thus broadened, the statements can be better quantified. In this way, we can move from exploratory to qualitative statistical analysis and quantify the significant effects.” According to Mattias Baumberger (uwe Luzern), the implementation of the revised energy laws should cause few problems: “We now have 15 months of experience with the new regulations. The standard solutions are easy to implement. So far we have not had a case in which none of the eleven standard solutions could be implemented.»
