Applications for subsidies for heat pumps down sharply

08/10/2023

Source: Energy & Management Powernews

The Bafa reports fewer funding applications for heat pumps in the first half of the year. Consumers are waiting for clarification in the Building Energy Act.

According to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (Bafa), the number of applications for government financial support for a heat pump fell by about 50 percent in the first six months. This was reported by the German Heat Pump Association (BWP). Thus, in the first half of this year, just under 49,000 applications for subsidies for a heat pump are said to have been submitted. In the period of the previous year it had been still scarcely 98,000 requests.

The Federal Government had announced promotion rates of 30 up to 70 per cent of the investment sum for the installation of a new heat pump, so the federation. But since the corresponding law could not yet be passed due to opposition objections, consumers waited. "With the decision on the building energy law, the decision on a motion for resolution of the coalition factions on the subject of subsidies was also postponed to the first session week in September."

The BWP hopes that the federal government will "clarify the conditions for a subsidy as quickly as possible." He pleads for an option for consumers to be able to switch later to the application with the conditions of the new directive if they apply for a subsidy.

In principle, he said, growth in heat pumps remains high. "The sales figures of heat pumps in the first half of the year are still very stable," said BWP. However, it said they largely reflected the high demand from last year, as projects are delayed in coming to fruition. BWP expects demand for heat pumps to recover.

According to the association, sales of heating heat pumps rose to 236,000 units in 2022, up 53 percent from the previous year in 2021.

Author: Stefan Sagmeister