30% Heating Replacement Bonus: How to Increase Your Support When Switching to a Heat Pump
1. What is this “bonus”?
If you replace an old heating system (oil, gas, coal, night storage heater) with a heat pump or another renewable-energy-based system, you may receive an additional 30% on top of the basic state subsidy under BEG EM via KfW. This is known as the income bonus (Einkommensbonus) and can, together with other bonuses, enable support of up to 70% of installation costs (stiebel-eltron.de, thermondo.de).
2. How are the funding rates calculated?
| Type of support | Rate |
|---|---|
| Basic funding (Grundförderung) | 30% |
| Speed bonus (Speed-Bonus) | 20% |
| Income bonus (taxable income ≤ €40,000) | 30% |
| Efficiency bonus (heat pumps with natural refrigerant) | 5% |
| Maximum total funding | up to 70% |
If your annual taxable income is ≤ €40,000 and the system is installed in your owner-occupied home, an extra 30% is added as an income bonus (thermondo.de).
Additional condition: To receive the 5% efficiency bonus, the heat pump must use a natural refrigerant or draw heat from groundwater/ground sources (stiebel-eltron.de).
3. When and how is the grant paid out?
You must apply before installation work begins.
The application is submitted via the KfW portal (program 458)—through your “Hausbank” or directly via a certified installer after signing the contract.
After completion, once invoices and documents are uploaded (contracts, proof of income, property register data, etc.), the amount is paid directly to your bank account.
4. Who can benefit?
Homeowners living in their own property (owner-occupiers).
No BAföG or other benefit entitlement is required.
The old heating system must run on conventional fuels.
For the income bonus: taxable annual income must be ≤ €40,000 (thermondo.de).
5. Practical tips
Check your annual income using your tax assessments from the last two years.
Work with a certified installer who can correctly record efficiency details in the KfW portals during contracting.
Apply early—before finalizing the contract and starting work—to secure all support components.
Upload all documents: implementation contract, invoices, tax/income documents, property register extract (Grundbuch), and proof of registration (Meldebescheinigung).
Summary
Total support can reach up to 70% of costs when replacing an old system with a heat pump.
The 30% income bonus applies if taxable income is ≤ €40,000.
It can be combined with the speed bonus and efficiency bonus, but you must apply via KfW before work starts.
The website’s writing and editorial team strives to provide accurate information through extensive research and consultation of multiple sources. However, mistakes may occur or some details may remain unconfirmed. Please treat the information as an initial reference and always consult the relevant official authorities for verified details.
