Heat pump boom in Bavaria: the future of funding remains uncertain!

Heat pump boom in Bavaria: the future of funding remains uncertain!

In Germany, the discussion about the future of heat pumps is in full swing. People in Bavaria in particular are interested, as the number of funding applications reached a peak of 42,100 in 2024. Loud br.de The funding for this has reached an impressive amount of 570.7 million euros. Despite this positive development, there are some political disagreements.

Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) recently confirmed that the Building Energy Act (GEG) remains in principle. At the same time, he made it clear that support for heat pumps should be maintained, especially for low-income households, with subsidies of up to 70%. “There's something going on!”, one might think, but Federal Economics Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU) is hinting at cuts and calling for more personal responsibility when replacing heating systems. A dichotomy that unsettles many homeowners.

Political disputes over funding

Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) has vehemently spoken out in favor of abolishing the heating law and criticized the high subsidies, which, in his opinion, make heat pumps more expensive in Germany than in other countries. “Complete over-subsidization is a problem,” said Söder. However, these views contradict the demands of industry representatives. Wolfgang Schwarz, general manager of the Bavarian Heating Technology Association, opposes changes to the GEG and emphasizes that the German standards are driving up costs.

A study by RWTH Aachen shows that heat pumps in Germany are almost twice as expensive as in Great Britain. The reasons for this are high technical requirements, a more complex installation and the different conveying structure. These findings should be of interest to many homeowners who are considering investing in a heat pump.

The heat pump test

But what is the actual cost-effectiveness of heat pumps? A recent test in 2025 took a closer look at five models from manufacturers such as Vaillant, Stiebel Eltron and Viessmann. These models are designed so that they can also effectively heat old buildings. The acquisition costs are in the five-figure range, making government funding even more important.

The efficiency of the heat pumps tested depends heavily on the insulation of the house and the type of heating system, such as underfloor heating or radiators. Differences in energy efficiency can result in significant annual fluctuations in electricity costs. The test results provided can be filtered according to criteria such as performance, energy efficiency and price and provide a clear overview of which heating replacement makes the most sense. The noise level of the outdoor units was also assessed, which is likely to be a decisive criterion for many buyers.

However, the current uncertainty regarding future regulations and subsidies means that many homeowners are currently hesitant to make the necessary investments. Unfortunately, the fewest new heating systems in 15 years were installed in 2025, even though there is a major renovation backlog. “There is still a lot of room for improvement here,” says Markus Ruckdeschel from the Northern Bavaria Energy Agency.

Overall, it remains to be seen what politicians will decide with regard to the promotion of heat pumps and whether the industry can adapt to the upcoming changes. However, the people of Bavaria are interested and many are hoping for a clear line from the federal government. Until then, the only option left is to find out about the advantages and disadvantages of heat pumps and obtain suitable recommendations from your own network. Those who act quickly often have an advantage, because at the moment the following applies: If you don't ask, you'll remain stupid!