The reason Germany so heavily relies on gas for heating is the relative cost of LPG vs electricity for heating. If electricity were cheap and plentiful, new builds and renovations would be using heat pumps. Because of Germany's insistence on closing nuclear plants, electricity is not cheap and plentiful.
Given their recent about-face on several key positions, I am hopeful that they revisit their position on nuclear. Renewables should of course be prioritised, but until mass storage becomes realistic, reliable electricity generation needs to be available. Now that it is clear that Russia cannot be trusted as a reliable source of cheap energy, I hope Germany takes energy independence much more seriously.
Even before we closed down our nuclear plants, Germans heated mainly with gas. Electric heating was a thing for a while, it was basically phased out over 30 years ago. The other alternative is oil. Replacing for 80+ million people is a gargantuan task. One you don't start unless there are issues with gas, and there were none so far. Not even now I'd say, except pricing.
>Even before we closed down our nuclear plants, Germans heated mainly with gas.
Because electricity was not cheap and plentiful. There are three plants still in operation in Germany, with 10 having closed in the last decade. France has 56 currently in operation, with more planned. This is not a problem which occurred overnight for Germany. They've been focusing on LPG for heating for decades. They made the wrong call; in large part because of the polling for German citizens. Most are against nuclear electricity generation.
So minus ten nuclear plants in ten years vs. gas heating since the 60s (?). Guess what migjt be the real reason. And even France is more and more getting of electrocity for direct heating. Heat pumps are rather new tech in the context of this discussion.
Given their recent about-face on several key positions, I am hopeful that they revisit their position on nuclear. Renewables should of course be prioritised, but until mass storage becomes realistic, reliable electricity generation needs to be available. Now that it is clear that Russia cannot be trusted as a reliable source of cheap energy, I hope Germany takes energy independence much more seriously.