The Danish government has taken a significant step towards accelerating the green transition. The Folketing (Danish Parliament) has decided to encourage more people to replace their old gas or oil heaters with heat pumps. Until 2023, Danes could apply for subsidies for this transition through the Building Pool (Bygningspulje), but this program has now been closed. From September 2023, Danes can apply for subsidies through the new Varmepumpepuljen.

The Structure of the Varmepumpepuljen

The details of the upcoming Varmepumpepuljen have been revealed. A regulation on subsidies for heat pumps is now freely available on lovtidende.dk. The regulation stipulates that future support will be available for new air-to-water heat pumps and geothermal heat. The conditions include that you do not have access to (planned) district heating, and your upcoming heat pump must be A++ or A+++ rated.

Like the old Building Pool, you cannot get a subsidy for a new heat pump for the summer house, but only for year-round residences. You must apply through an application portal, which will be set up on the Energy Agency’s website and on statens-tilskudspuljer.dk. The application portal will be launched in September 2023.

Subsidy Rates

The subsidy rates according to the regulation are as follows:

• For residential houses, the subsidy for an air-to-water heat pump is 17,000 kroner, and for geothermal heat, it is 27,000 kroner.
• For large air-to-water heat pump systems (buildings over 400 m2), the subsidy varies from 45,000 kroner for a 20 kW – 50 kW heat pump to 349,000 kroner for a heat pump over 300 kW.
• For large geothermal systems (buildings over 400 m2), the subsidy ranges from 65,000 kroner for a 20 kW – 50 kW system to 410,000 kroner for a system over 300 kW.

The Varmepumpepuljen is a significant initiative to promote the use of more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly heating solutions. It is a clear indication of the Danish government’s commitment to the green transition and a sustainable future.