Fossil fuel boilers phased out as new homes shift to heat pumps

Fossil fuel boilers were installed in fewer than 5% of new dwellings in 2023.

Fossil fuel boilers have been effectively phased out in new homes, according to new figures.

Figures released by the Department of Housing show that electricity heating systems, the majority of which are heat pumps, were installed in 95% of new dwellings in the first three quarters of 2023, according to the latest data from the CSO.

By comparison, fossil fuel boilers were installed in fewer than 5% of new dwellings in 2023 — down from 79% for the period from 2010 to 2014.

As recently as 2020, 20% of new homes were built with gas boilers.

That figure was just 4% of the 9,617 new homes completed by the end of Q3 last year. 

The shift in energy sources is largely down to Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) regulations introduced by the Department of Housing in 2019. 

Under those regulations, all new homes must be nearly zero-energy buildings (NZEB).

The use of fossil fuel boilers could be completely eradicated by a European directive signed in December. 

Last month, the European Council and Parliament reached a provisional political agreement on a proposal to revise the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with a final agreement expected soon.

The new measures aim to increase the rate of renovation, particularly for the worst-performing buildings in each member state.

Some of the main proposals include:

• Phasing out of fossil fuel boilers by 2040;
• introducing minimum energy performance standards for the non-residential building sector;
• requiring that from 2030, new buildings will be Zero Emissions buildings (ZEB) where the very low amount of energy required is fully covered by renewable energy.

The directive also envisages the introduction of additional requirements for electric vehicle recharging infrastructure.

Ireland's 2019 regulations mean all new dwellings are now A2-rated with electrical heating systems which are mainly renewable heat pumps installed in 95% of new dwellings.

Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien said that the shift to heat pumps was a good sign for climate action. He said that Ireland welcomed the EU directive update.

"This significant shift towards renewable heating systems in new homes shows that Ireland's ambitious building regulations under the Climate Action Plan are already working and they put us in a good place ahead of the proposed EU regulations that will be coming down the line.

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"We welcome the recent outcome of the EU negotiations on this proposal and look forward to implementing these requirements in regulations over the coming months and years. 

"Improving the energy efficiency of homes improves the health and comfort of those living in these homes and these regulations will enable us to build healthy, sustainable, and durable buildings suitable for the Irish climate both today and into the future."