Heat pumps in Kiel
Heat pumps in Kiel at a glance
The Ratsversammlung formally adopted the heat plan with 34 measures on 12 December 2024, with climate neutrality by 2040. as the goal. Stadtwerke Kiel supplies the city with electricity, gas and district heating. IB.SH supports modernisation with low-interest loans.
See also: Nationwide basis. KfW 458, GEG and technical minimum requirements apply in Kiel without restriction.
RECOMMENDED PROVIDERS
Funding in Kiel
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| KfW 458 (federal funding) | active |
| IB.SH Wohnraum modernisation | interest-reduced loans from 1,1 % p.a., including heat pump installation, combinable with KfW |
| Stadtwerke tariffs | special heat pump electricity tariffs |
Details on KfW 458 can be found in the Nationwide basis. IB.SH provides low-interest loans for modernisation.
Application process and responsible bodies
Untere Wasserbehörde of the City of Kiel
Based in the Umweltamt. Approves geothermal probes and groundwater heat pumps; conventional probes drilled to greater depths still require a water-law permit, while small systems up to 4 m deep outside water protection areas have required only notification since the Geothermie-Beschleunigungsgesetz (December 2025).
Stadtwerke Kiel
Supplier of electricity, gas and district heating. Offers advice and tariffs.
IB.SH (Investitionsbank Schleswig-Holstein)
Provides low-interest loans for modernisation.
Status of municipal heat planning
| Step | Date |
|---|---|
| Resolution by the Ratsversammlung | 12 December 2024 |
| Action plan | 34 measures for climate neutrality 2040 |
| Federal deadline | 30 June 2026 (exceeded well in advance) |
Kiel's heat plan sets out clear paths to climate neutrality. The Energiewende- und Klimaschutzgesetz (EWKG) requires 78 municipalities in Schleswig-Holstein to carry out heat planning, more than just the large cities with over 100.000 inhabitants required under federal law.
Local features
Kiel has a district heating network and is working on decarbonising it. The heat plan specifically recommends heat pumps in decentralised areas. Since the LBO reform (in force since July 2024), outdoor air-source heat pump units up to 2 m high and 3 m long may be positioned directly on the property boundary without their own clearance area. This concerns the above-ground outdoor unit, not the water-law approval for geothermal probes.
Frequently asked questions
What funding applies to my heat pump in Kiel?
Primarily the federal funding KfW 458 and IB.SH loans for modernisation.
Who approves a geothermal probe in Kiel?
The Untere Wasserbehörde approves probes through a water-law permit; small systems up to 4 m deep outside water protection areas have only required notification since the end of 2025. This applies regardless of the reduced clearance requirements for the above-ground outdoor heat pump unit.
Does Kiel have a heat plan?
Yes, the Ratsversammlung formally adopted the heat plan with 34 measures on 12 December 2024, well before the federal deadline of 30 June 2026.