The Canton of Zurich subsidises the replacement of oil, gas and electric heating with heat pumps: in 2026 an air-to-water heat pump up to 15 kW receives a flat-rate CHF 2,900, a ground-source heat pump CHF 6,800 – larger systems get surcharges per kW. On top there are additional contributions, such as CHF 15,000 for the first-time installation of the heat distribution system when replacing electric heating. The application must be submitted before construction starts. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- Subsidised is the replacement of an oil, gas or electric heating system in an existing building – not new construction and not the replacement of an old heat pump.
- Air-to-water: CHF 2,900 (up to 15 kW), above that plus CHF 160 per additional kW. Ground probe and groundwater: CHF 6,800, above that plus CHF 420 per kW.
- Anyone replacing a decentralised electric or floor-by-floor heating system also receives up to CHF 15,000 for the first-time installation of radiators or underfloor heating.
- Mandatory: application before construction starts via the cantonal application platform; construction may begin after the confirmation of receipt.
- Watch out for district heating areas: in certain network areas under municipal energy planning, the heat pump is not subsidised – check the GIS map beforehand.
- Is your house in a different canton? The rates differ significantly – overview of all cantons: Heat pump incentives Switzerland.
Which heat pumps does the Canton of Zurich subsidise?
The cantonal incentive programme supports all three types of heat pump as well as connection to a heating network – the contributions differ significantly:
| Measure | up to 15 kW | above 15 kW |
|---|---|---|
| Air-to-water heat pump | CHF 2,900.– | CHF 2,900 + 160/additional kW |
| Brine-to-water heat pump (ground probe) | CHF 6,800.– | CHF 6,800 + 420/additional kW |
| Water-to-water heat pump (groundwater) | CHF 6,800.– | CHF 6,800 + 420/additional kW |
| Connection to a heating network | CHF 5,200.– | CHF 5,200 + 100/additional kW |
Guideline values according to the Canton of Zurich's 2026 incentive programme (version 1 January 2026). The contribution is capped at 50 percent of the eligible investment costs; the current incentive conditions and the individual approval are decisive.
The significantly higher contributions for ground-probe and groundwater systems are intentional: they cost more to install but run more efficiently. For a typical single-family home with 8–12 kW heating capacity, this means concretely: CHF 2,900 for the air-to-water solution, CHF 6,800 for the ground probe – a difference that noticeably cushions but does not cover the extra cost of drilling. What the systems cost: Heat pump: costs in Switzerland.
Which conditions must be met?
The key requirements from the 2026 incentive conditions:
- The system replaces an oil, gas or electric heating system in an existing building – replacing an existing heat pump or wood heating is not eligible, nor are new buildings.
- Up to 70 kW, the heat pump serves as the main heating system without a fossil secondary heating system.
- Only electric-motor heat pumps with proper electricity and heat metering are subsidised; up to 15 kW the Heat Pump System Module (WPSM) certificate is required, above that a quality label and performance guarantee.
- District heating priority: if the property is located, according to the GIS map of municipal energy planning, in a network area not eligible for subsidy, there is no contribution for the heat pump – exceptions are possible, for example if the network does not want to connect the property or this would be significantly more expensive.
- The contribution is capped at 50 W of heating capacity per m² of energy reference area – oversized systems do not receive more money.
- Can be combined with cantonal building envelope contributions and municipal programmes; cannot be combined with third-party programmes such as the KliK Foundation or Energie Zukunft Schweiz.
What additional contributions are there?
Three items are often overlooked:
1. First-time installation of the heat distribution system: anyone replacing a decentralised electric or floor-by-floor heating system and installing radiators or underfloor heating for the first time receives an additional CHF 15,000 (up to 250 m² of energy reference area; above that CHF 60/m²). This is often the largest single contribution in the whole programme – and it requires a separate application. 2. Ground-probe bonus: for complete, fossil-free ground-probe regeneration or operation without antifreeze, there is an additional CHF 3,000 plus CHF 100 per additional kW. 3. GEAK Plus: the canton pays CHF 1,000 towards the advisory report for single-/two-family homes (CHF 1,500 for other buildings) – worthwhile if insulation questions are open alongside the heating.
As of: July 2026; the current conditions of the incentive programme are decisive.
How does the incentive application process work?
1. Submit the application before construction starts on the cantonal application platform (portal.dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch/zh) – installation of the heat pump, or drilling in the case of ground probes, counts as the start of construction. 2. After the automatic confirmation of receipt you may begin construction; the binding approval follows within around four weeks of receipt of the complete documents. 3. From the approval you have two years to complete the work and close it out via the platform. 4. After review of the closing documents, the contribution is transferred around 30 days after the payment letter.
Required, among other things, are the quote, a photo of the old heating system with its nameplate, and proof of the energy reference area – for ecoEn projects, we put the dossier together along with the heating quote.
Combining a heat pump and a solar system: the double effect
In the Canton of Zurich, this combination is doubly subsidised – and operationally the most logical pairing there is: the canton pays towards the heat pump, the federal government pays the one-off feed-in incentive for the PV system, and in operation your own solar power lowers the heat pump's running costs. Worth noting on the side: anyone who also insulates the roof or façade as part of the project receives CHF 40/m² from the canton for the insulation – plus CHF 20/m² of module area as an additional contribution if a PV system is built on the renovated areas at the same time.
How the interplay works technically and what it delivers: Combining a heat pump and photovoltaics.
The number one stumbling block in our Zurich projects is municipal energy planning: the client plans the heat pump, and only at the incentive application stage does it turn out that the property is in a network area with connection priority – then, without additional clarification, the contribution falls through. That's why we check the GIS map right at the start, not at the end. The second classic case is more pleasant: owners of old electric heating systems often don't know that the first-time installation of the heat distribution system is subsidised separately – for a typical single-family home, that can quickly add up to CHF 18,000 to 20,000 in cantonal contributions. That fundamentally changes the renovation calculation.
Frequently asked questions
Is replacing an old heat pump subsidised?
No – only the replacement of oil, gas or electric heating systems is subsidised. Anyone already heating with a heat pump receives no cantonal contribution for renewing it.
Is the incentive also available for new construction?
No, the programme applies to existing buildings. For new construction, the heat pump is standard anyway and part of the system costs.
Can I combine cantonal and municipal incentives?
Yes – subsidies from municipal programmes are explicitly cumulative; individual municipalities pay additional contributions on top of the cantonal incentive. energiefranken.ch does the postcode check. Third-party programmes such as the KliK Foundation or Energie Zukunft Schweiz cannot be combined.
Do I have to wait for the approval before building?
Formally, you may begin after the platform's confirmation of receipt; the legally binding approval follows within around four weeks. Anyone who wants to be on the safe side waits for the approval – planning can proceed in the meantime regardless.
Is the incentive relevant for tax purposes?
Yes, in two ways: the investment in replacing the heating system in an existing building is generally deductible from taxable income, and incentive contributions received must be correctly accounted for.
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Sources: Canton of Zurich, Baudirektion AWEL (2026 incentive programme, version 1 January 2026; zh.ch/energiefoerderung), portal.dasgebaeudeprogramm.ch/zh, energiefranken.ch.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
