Heat pumps in Cologne
Heat pumps in Cologne at a glance
Cologne completed its municipal heat planning on 4 March 2026. The resolution proposal will go to the council, after which the plan will be submitted to the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Klima NRW and published.
The city places a strong emphasis on district heating. RheinEnergie is building Europe's largest river-water heat pump on the Rhine, which from 2027 will supply up to 50.000 households with climate-friendly heat. The state and EU are supporting the project with around 100 million EUR.
Cologne has no dedicated municipal grant funding specifically for heat pumps. Owners combine the federal funding KfW 458 with progres.nrw and the Cologne Klimaschutzpaket for supplementary measures.
See also: Nationwide basis. KfW 458, GEG and technical minimum requirements apply in Cologne without restriction.
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Funding in Cologne
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| KfW 458 (federal funding) | active |
| progres.nrw Klimaschutztechnik | active until 30 June 2027, up to 12.000 EUR for geothermal energy in existing buildings |
| Cologne “Gebäudesanierung und Erneuerbare Energien – Klimaschutzpaket” | up to 2.500 EUR for photovoltaics, up to 1.300 EUR for battery storage, max. 10.000 EUR per building and year |
| Cologne programme total budget 2026 | 8 million EUR |
| City of Cologne direct for heat pumps | not provided for |
Details on KfW 458 can be found in the Nationwide basis. The Cologne Klimaschutzpaket primarily supports PV and storage. The heat pump itself is funded through federal funding and progres.nrw.
City of Cologne funding programme progres.nrw at Bezirksregierung Arnsberg
Application process and responsible bodies
Untere Wasserbehörde of the City of Cologne
The Untere Wasserbehörde is based in the Umwelt- und Verbraucherschutzamt. It approves geothermal probes and groundwater heat pumps.
Umwelt- und Verbraucherschutzamt Cologne
Building control of the City of Cologne
Building control assesses noise protection and siting issues on a case-by-case basis. Minimum distances have no longer applied in NRW since 1 January 2024.
Bezirksregierung Arnsberg
Bezirksregierung Arnsberg administers the progres.nrw programme across the state.
RheinEnergie AG
RheinEnergie is the municipal energy supplier. It is the first point of contact for district heating connections.
Private customer service telephone: 0221 178 6000
RheinNetz GmbH
RheinNetz operates the electricity and gas networks in Cologne. It is relevant for the § 14a EnWG connection of the heat pump.
Status of municipal heat planning
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Development with 150 specialist stakeholders | since 2023 |
| Interim results published | 2025 |
| KWP completed | 4 March 2026 |
| Resolution by the council | planned before the federal deadline of 30 June 2026 |
| Submission to the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Klima NRW | after council resolution |
| Update | every five years |
The heat plan identifies district-heating priority areas and decentralised supply areas. Before replacing their heating system, owners should check which zone their address is in.
Local features
River-water heat pump on the Rhine
RheinEnergie is building Europe’s largest river-water heat pump in Cologne. From 2027, it will supply up to 50.000 households through the district heating network. Owners in priority areas benefit indirectly.
District heating network
Cologne has a dense district heating network based on combined heat and power and renewable energy. The city is continuing to expand the network. In connected districts, district heating is often the most economical option.
Water protection areas in the west
There are drinking water protection areas in western Cologne. Ground-source probes require a special review there by the lower water authority.
Frequently asked questions
Which funding applies to my heat pump in Cologne?
Primarily the federal KfW 458 funding and progres.nrw (up to 12.000 EUR for geothermal energy). There is no separate municipal grant specifically for heat pumps. The Kölner Klimaschutzpaket supports PV and storage as an addition.
When will Cologne’s heat plan be adopted?
The municipal heat planning was completed on 4 March 2026. Final publication will take place after a council resolution and submission to the Landesamt für Natur, Umwelt und Klima NRW, before 30 June 2026.
Who approves a ground-source probe in Cologne?
The lower water authority in the Stadt Köln’s Umwelt- und Verbraucherschutzamt. There are water protection areas with special requirements in the west of the city.
Is district heating more worthwhile than a heat pump in my district?
That depends on the heat plan. From 2027, districts in district heating priority areas will also benefit from RheinEnergie’s river-water heat pump. In decentralised areas, having your own heat pump is usually the better solution.