Federal Funding for Efficient Heat Networks (BEW)
Funding for the construction and decarbonization of heat networks with a high share of renewable energies and waste heat. Modules for planning, investments, and individual measures. Applications are ongoing; individual measures without a transformation plan are possible until 14.09.2025.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
Funding of measures for the transformation of existing and the establishment of new heat networks with at least 75% renewable energy and waste heat, including transformation plans, feasibility studies, investments in generation plants and infrastructure, as well as operating cost subsidies, in order to achieve greenhouse gas-neutral heat network systems in Germany by 2045.
Eligible expenses
- Planning and consulting services (HOAI service phases 1–4)
- Investments in renewable heat generators (solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass)
- Construction and expansion of pipelines and network infrastructure
- Individual measures (solar thermal, heat pumps, biomass boilers, heat storage, connection lines, transfer stations)
- Operating cost subsidies for solar thermal and heat pumps
Non-eligible expenses
- Plants for heat generation from fossil energy sources
- Combustion of synthetic gases
- Debt repayment
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Public Institutions
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
- Cooperatives
Funding requirements
- Heating network at least half located in Germany
- Connection of more than 16 buildings or more than 100 residential units
- Shares of renewable energies and waste heat must be increasingly greenhouse gas neutral by 2045
- Certified cost accounting by auditor or tax advisor
- Submission of a transformation plan or a feasibility study for systemic funding (Module 2)
Documents required for application
- Transformation plan or feasibility study
- Calculation of economic viability gaps
- Audited cost accounting by auditor or tax advisor
- Draft of the contracting agreement (for contracting)
- Interim reports (annual) and proof of use
Evaluation criteria
- Share of renewable energies and waste heat
- Economic efficiency of the project
- Degree of decarbonization
- Innovative content of the grid transformation
Description
The Federal Funding for Efficient Heat Networks (BEW) supports companies, public institutions, associations, clubs, and cooperatives nationwide in the planning and implementation of greenhouse gas-neutral district and local heating networks. Transformation plans and feasibility studies (Module 1) are funded with up to 50% of the recognized planning and consulting costs, investments in new construction as well as the decarbonization of existing networks (Module 2) with a grant of up to 40% of eligible expenses, and individual measures such as solar thermal, heat pumps, or biomass boilers (Module 3) also up to 40%. A prerequisite is a heat network connection of more than 16 buildings or 100 residential units, as well as a demonstrably increasing share of renewable energies and waste heat by no later than 2045. Eligible expenses include, among others, HOAI service phases 1–8, investments in generation plants and pipe networks, network optimization, and operating cost subsidies for solar thermal and heat pumps.
Applications are submitted continuously via the BAFA portal; individual measures without a transformation plan can be applied for until September 14, 2025. Approval requires an audited cost accounting, annual interim reports, and evidence of the economic viability gap. The funding program aims to establish heat networks with at least 75% renewable heat generation to transition Germany to greenhouse gas-neutral heat supply by 2045. Evaluation criteria include the share of renewable energies and waste heat, economic viability, the degree of decarbonization, and the level of innovation in the network transformation.
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