Yes, in several markets. Germany funds PVT both as a solar thermal system and as a heat source for a heat pump, at 30% base and up to 70% with bonuses. France removed hybrid panels from MaPrimeRénov' single-measure grants on 1 September 2026; they now qualify only within a whole-house renovation or through the éco-PTZ loan. Eligibility everywhere turns on one thing: a Solar Keymark or CSTBat certificate for the collector.
Which countries fund PVT panels in 2026?
PVT sits in an awkward gap: too thermal for photovoltaic schemes, too electrical for some solar thermal ones. Three markets have resolved it explicitly.
| Market | PVT route | Typical support | Certification gate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany (BEG, KfW 458) | As solar thermal, or as heat source for a heat pump | 30% base, up to 70% with bonuses | Solar Keymark from an ISO 17025 body, on the BAFA Anlagenliste, ≥525 kWh/m²·yr yield |
| France (MaPrimeRénov') | Own category, "capteurs hybrides" | Single-measure grant ended 1 Sep 2026; whole-house renovation or éco-PTZ only | CSTBat or Solar Keymark; hydraulic only, aerovoltaic excluded |
| Italy (Conto Termico 3.0) | Within the solar thermal annexes | Up to 65%, single instalment below €15,000 | UNI EN 12975/12976 with Solar Keymark |
| Netherlands (ISDE) | Only as part of a listed solar water heater | From about €300 by annual thermal yield | Must appear on the RVO device list |
| United Kingdom | No grant for solar thermal or PVT | 0% VAT to 31 Mar 2027 | Installer certification for the relief |
Germany's is the strongest position in Europe: the BEG names the PVT-Wärmepumpen-Kombination as a fundable route and does so independently of heat pump manufacturer. France listed hybrid panels as their own line rather than folding them into solar thermal, but removed them from single-measure MaPrimeRénov' grants on 1 September 2026.
What certification does a PVT panel need?
A Solar Keymark certificate is the near-universal key. Every scheme above accepts it, and Germany additionally requires that it be issued by a laboratory accredited to ISO 17025 and that the product appear on the BAFA list of eligible systems. France accepts CSTBat as an alternative. Italy points at UNI EN 12975/12976, which the same test campaign satisfies.
The practical order of operations is therefore fixed: certify the collector, get it listed, then apply. A panel with excellent ISO 9806 test data but no listing on the national register is not fundable, however good it is. Solimpeks holds Solar Keymark certification through DIN CERTCO/Kiwa for its collector ranges alongside SRCC and TSE approvals, which is what makes products eligible for the routes above.
What conditions apply beyond certification?
France's technical conditions, which still apply to the éco-PTZ loan, remain a useful checklist for any market:
- Hydraulic hybrid panels only. Air-based aerovoltaic products were excluded from MaPrimeRénov' in 2026.
- A glycol-water circuit — the panel must be a genuine liquid collector, not a PV module with a duct.
- At least 1 m² of aperture, so a single panel can qualify.
- An RGE-certified installer, which is mandatory for MaPrimeRénov', CEE and the éco-PTZ loan alike.
- A DPE energy audit with every application since 1 January 2026, and reports indicate an additional condition tying hybrid panels to dwellings rated E, F or G. Confirm the current wording on france-renov.gouv.fr before relying on it.
Germany adds a yield threshold rather than a property test: the array must be certified for an annual collector yield of at least 525 kWh/m². Uncovered PVT can meet that, but the figure must come off the certificate, not off a brochure.
Does the electrical half get funded too?
Usually not by the same scheme, and this is the most common misunderstanding. Dutch ISDE funds solar water heaters, not photovoltaic panels, so a PVT array is supported only through the thermal system it forms part of and only if that system appears on the RVO device list. Germany's PV support runs through feed-in tariffs and a 0% VAT rate rather than through the BEG.
The realistic expectation is therefore: the thermal function attracts the grant, the electrical function attracts the electricity value. Build the business case on both, but do not assume one application covers both. Whether the combined economics work at all is the subject of is a hybrid solar heat pump system worth it?
Why is PVT under-claimed even where it is eligible?
Because the technology falls between two trades and two application forms. Installers who fit PVT hybrid collectors often come from the photovoltaic side and apply under PV rules, where the array is not eligible, instead of under the solar thermal or heat-source route where it is. In Germany the difference between those two filings is the whole 30–70% grant.
Two further cautions for 2026. Rates are degressive and were cut mid-year in Germany, so the amount quoted in a proposal expires; and According to the latest regulatory updates, Germany is also reviewing how its heat pump funding will be structured from 2027; the rules are still evolving, so check current eligibility with your installer or with us. Any PVT proposal written today should carry a validity date and a note to re-check the current official rules before contract signature. Broader country detail sits in solar thermal subsidies in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim a PV subsidy and a solar thermal grant for the same PVT panel?
Generally no — schemes prohibit funding the same expense twice, and most solar thermal grants are calculated on the whole collector. Check whether the national rules allow the electrical output to be remunerated separately through feed-in or net metering, which is usually the case.
Do PVT panels qualify for the UK Boiler Upgrade Scheme?
No. The scheme funds heat pumps and, in rural off-gas properties, biomass. Solar thermal and PVT are not eligible, though both benefit from 0% VAT on energy-saving materials until 31 March 2027.
Does Germany fund PVT even if the heat pump is a different brand?
Yes. The BEG explicitly treats a PVT array as a fundable heat source for a heat pump independently of heat pump manufacturer. The requirement attaches to the collector's Solar Keymark certification and BAFA listing, not to the pairing.
What if my PVT panel is not on the national device list?
Then the application will be refused, regardless of test data. Ask the manufacturer for the listing reference for your specific model before ordering, and confirm it on the register yourself, because listings are per model and per test campaign.