Heat pump Brandenburg

Heat pumps in Brandenburg at a glance

Brandenburg funds heat pumps through ILB with a grant and an interest-free loan. Details are set out below under ‘Landesförderung Brandenburg’.

Potsdam is the only large city with more than 100.000 residents and adopted its heat plan by the deadline. Details are set out below under ‘Status der kommunalen Wärmeplanung’.

See also: Nationwide basis. KfW 458, GEG and technical minimum requirements apply in full in Brandenburg.

State funding in Brandenburg

Brandenburg combines loan and grant funding through ILB.

Wohneigentum – Nachhaltige Modernisierung und Instandsetzung combines basic funding of around 10.000 EUR as a genuine grant with an interest-free loan of up to 230.000 EUR over 20 Jahre. Additional funding is available, for example, for each child. The exact grant amount is stated in the current ILB fact sheet.

Brandenburg-Kredit Energieeffizienter Wohnungsbau is aimed primarily at rented housing construction and modernisation, with a repayment grant of 5 per cent. Energieeffizienz Brandenburg only funds commercial applicants, not private individuals.

The state development bank is the ILB. Verbraucherzentrale Brandenburg also provides free advice.

Water law: geothermal energy and groundwater

Ground-source probes require a water-law permit in Brandenburg under the Brandenburgischen Wassergesetz (BbgWG). The lower water authority in the district or independent city is responsible.

Mining law (BBergG) only becomes relevant from a depth of 400 metres. In practice, this is irrelevant for the probe depths of 50 to 150 metres commonly used in Brandenburg.

MLUK provides template forms for applications. Enquire with the lower water authority before any drilling.

Building regulations: noise protection and minimum distance

The Brandenburgische Bauordnung (BbgBO) has no separate exemption from setback areas for heat pumps. § 6 A subsection 8 BbgBO regulates only garages and freestanding solar systems, with a height of up to 3 metres and a length of up to 9 metres per property boundary, capped at 15 metres in total.

Heat pump outdoor units are therefore subject to the general setback-area rule under § 6 A subsections 1 to 7 BbgBO if the unit is regarded as another structure with a building-like effect. Clarify this with the responsible building control authority before installation.

Key authorities in the state

Investitionsbank des Landes Brandenburg (ILB)

ILB administers the state funding programmes and is the central contact point for applications.

Funding advice telephone: 0331 660-2211

ilb.de

Ministerium für Landwirtschaft, Umwelt und Klimaschutz (MLUK)

MLUK is responsible for water law and climate protection. It provides template forms.

mluk.brandenburg.de

Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie und Klimaschutz (MWEKE)

MWEKE directs the state's energy policy and heat transition.

mweke.brandenburg.de

Ministerium für Infrastruktur und Landesplanung (MIL)

MIL coordinates municipal heat planning in Brandenburg.

mil.brandenburg.de

Lower water authorities

The lower water authorities are based in the 14 districts and 4 independent cities.

Verbraucherzentrale Brandenburg

Verbraucherzentrale provides free energy advice at more than 30 locations.

Telephone: 0331 98 22 999 5

verbraucherzentrale-brandenburg.de

Status of municipal heat planning

Brandenburg has only one large city with more than 100.000 residents: Potsdam. Potsdam adopted its heat plan on 3 June 2026 by the deadline.

Cottbus, Frankfurt (Oder) and Brandenburg an der Havel are below the 100.000-resident threshold. Like all other municipalities, they are subject to the later deadline of 30 June 2028. Around 70 municipalities have already submitted funding applications for voluntary heat planning.

Brandenburg supports heat planning with around 3 million EUR annually from federal funds, available until 2028. In addition, the state provides 15 million EUR from the ‘Brandenburg-Paket’ for municipal heat planning and 8 million EUR for the municipal heat transition. The Brandenburgische Wärmeplanungsverordnung has been in force since July 2024.

Frequently asked questions

What funding can I use for my heat pump in Brandenburg?

Through ‘Wohneigentum – Nachhaltige Modernisierung und Instandsetzung’, ILB offers a genuine grant of around 10.000 EUR plus an interest-free loan of up to 230.000 EUR. Federal funding through KfW 458. also applies.

How deep may a ground-source probe be drilled in Brandenburg?

There is no state-wide depth limit. The lower water authority assesses each case individually. Mining law only becomes relevant from a depth of 400 metres, so in practice it does not affect private systems.

Do I have to notify the authority before drilling?

Yes. Notify the lower water authority of the drilling in good time so that it can assess the case. The form is available on the MLUK website.

Do I need a minimum distance from my neighbour for the heat pump outdoor unit?

Brandenburg has no separate setback-area exemption for heat pumps. The general setback-area rule applies. Before positioning it on the property boundary, enquire with the building control authority.

When will Potsdam complete its heat planning?

The city council adopted the heat plan on 3 June 2026, by the deadline before the cut-off date of 30 June 2026.

Note on currency of information

Brandenburg's funding landscape continues to develop, including through the nationwide KfW-458 adjustment on 21 July 2026. Check the current status on the websites of ILB and KfW.