In 2026 every major European market subsidises heat pumps: Germany covers 30–80% of costs through the reformed BEG, France pays €3,000–5,000 per air-to-water unit via MaPrimeRénov', Italy's Conto Termico 3.0 refunds up to 65%, the UK grants £7,500 (£9,000 for oil/LPG homes from July 2026) and Ireland up to €12,500. Rates are falling — Germany cut support in July 2026 and Austria's 2026 heating-replacement budget is already exhausted.
Which countries pay heat pump grants in 2026?
Every major European market subsidises heat pump installation in 2026, with typical support between €3,000 and €12,500 — and the percentage-based schemes in Germany and Italy can exceed that for eligible households. The table summarises the main national schemes as of mid-2026:
| Country | Main scheme | 2026 heat pump support | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | BEG Heizungsförderung (KfW 458) | 30% base + 16% speed bonus + income bonus of up to 40%, capped at 70% (80% for household incomes up to €30,000) of max €28,000 eligible costs | Reformed 21 July 2026; bonuses fall every 6 months |
| France | MaPrimeRénov' + CEE | €3,000–5,000 for air-to-water units by income band, up to €11,000 for geothermal; CEE adds up to about €5,800 for modest households | Reopened 23 Feb 2026; home must be over 15 years old |
| Italy | Conto Termico 3.0 | Direct GSE grant typically recovering 40–65% of cost; single payment below €15,000 | Businesses eligible for the first time |
| Spain | IRPF tax deduction | 40% deduction (base €7,500) for a ≥30% primary-energy improvement | No open national grant; regional calls vary |
| UK (England & Wales) | Boiler Upgrade Scheme | £7,500; £9,000 for oil/LPG off-gas homes (21 July 2026 – 31 March 2027); £2,500 for air-to-air | EPC requirement removed April 2026 |
| Ireland | SEAI grants | Up to €12,500 per house (doubled Feb 2026); up to €9,500 for apartments | Home built and occupied before 2021 |
| Poland | Czyste Powietrze | Up to about 45,000 PLN for heat-source-only projects; far more within full thermomodernisation | Rules updated 20 July 2026 |
| Netherlands | ISDE | Grants scale with capacity, commonly €2,000–4,000 — check the current official amounts per model | 2026 budget raised to about €500 million |
| Austria | Sanierungsoffensive 2026 (Kesseltausch) | Up to €7,500 for a heat pump + €2,500 solar bonus for adding solar thermal | Envelope renovation bonus ended Feb 2026; 2026 budget exhausted — no new registrations |
Belgium funds heat pumps regionally (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) with income-dependent premiums and 6% renovation VAT — check the current official rules for your region.
How do the two biggest schemes work?
Germany's BEG stacks three components: a 30% base rate for air-to-water heat pumps on the official BAFA list, a 16% climate-speed bonus for owner-occupiers replacing a functioning fossil system, and an income bonus of 10–40% for household incomes up to €50,000 — all capped at 70% of eligible costs, or 80% for households with taxable income up to €30,000. Units must reach a seasonal performance factor (JAZ) of at least 3.0 and offer SG-Ready grid capability, and the application must be filed before the installation contract is signed. France pays €5,000, €4,000 or €3,000 for an air-to-water unit depending on income band, requires an RGE-certified installer, and lets CEE energy-saving certificates stack on top within official cumulation ceilings — check the current official rules for the exact caps.
What changed in 2026 — and why does timing matter?
2026 is the year of the mid-year cut. Germany reduced its speed bonus from 20% to 16% on 21 July and will keep cutting it every six months until it reaches zero in August 2028, with the €28,000 cost ceiling shrinking by €750 every six months in parallel. France reopened MaPrimeRénov' in February with stricter eligibility, and Austria cancelled its envelope bonus. Three markets moved the other way: Ireland doubled its grant to €12,500 on 3 February 2026, the UK added the temporary £9,000 oil/LPG uplift, and Poland eased Czyste Powietrze access and raised thermomodernisation support on 20 July. The direction is unmistakable — degressive schedules reward early applicants, and waiting a year can cost four figures.
What conditions apply almost everywhere?
Three requirements repeat across every scheme: a certified installer (MCS in the UK, RGE in France, SEAI-registered in Ireland), a product on an official eligibility list (BAFA Anlagenliste in Germany, RVO apparatenlijst in the Netherlands), and a minimum seasonal efficiency — Germany demands JAZ 3.0, Italy applies thresholds above the EU Ecodesign floor measured as SCOP. Since January 2025 the EPBD has barred public incentives for stand-alone fossil boilers EU-wide, so every scheme above funds renewable systems only. Manufacturer documentation carries the burden of proof: Solimpeks publishes the efficiency data for its heat pump range — COP up to 4.9 at A7/W35, with Varm Up Series EVI models operating down to −30 °C — that product listings and grant applications require.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has the highest heat pump grant in 2026?
Ireland pays the largest flat amount at up to €12,500 per house. Percentage schemes can beat it: Germany's 80% cap for households with taxable income up to €30,000 reaches €22,400 on €28,000 of eligible costs, and Italy's Conto Termico 3.0 can refund up to 65% of project cost.
Are heat pump grants going down?
In most markets, yes. Germany's bonus degression runs every six months until 2028 and its cost ceiling shrinks in parallel, while Austria ended its envelope bonus in February 2026 and has already exhausted its 2026 heating-replacement budget. Applying early in the scheme cycle secures the better rate.
Can I get a grant for a heat pump and solar thermal together?
Usually yes. Germany funds both under the same BEG framework, Austria adds an explicit solar bonus to its heating-replacement grant, while in mainland France solar thermal has been fundable by MaPrimeRénov' only within a whole-home renovation, not as a separate single measure, since 1 September 2026.
Do I need a specific certification to qualify for a grant?
The installer must hold the national accreditation (MCS, RGE, SEAI registration) and the heat pump must appear on the scheme's product list with proven seasonal efficiency. Applications with unlisted products are rejected regardless of the unit's quality.