Heat pump North Rhine-Westphalia
Heat pumps in North Rhine-Westphalia at a glance
With around 18 million inhabitants, North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous federal state and has 30 major cities with more than 100.000 inhabitants. With progres.nrw, the state has one of the most attractive state funding programmes for heat pumps, particularly for geothermal energy in existing multi-family houses. Details are provided below under “North Rhine-Westphalia state funding”.
Since 1 January 2024, heat pumps no longer require their own clearance area, subject to a length restriction. Details are provided below under “Building regulations”.
The Landeswärmeplanungsgesetz (LWPG NRW) entered into force on 20 December 2024. Details on individual major cities are provided in the relevant city document.
See also: Nationwide basis. KfW 458, GEG and technical minimum requirements apply without restriction in North Rhine-Westphalia.
RECOMMENDED PROVIDERS
North Rhine-Westphalia state funding
| Programme | Target group | Status 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| progres.nrw geothermal energy in existing buildings | Multi-family buildings with 3 W units or more | active, until 12.000 EUR |
| progres.nrw geothermal borehole for multi-family buildings | Multi-family buildings with 3 W units or more | active, 30 EUR/metre drilled, max. 15.000 EUR |
| progres.nrw heat pump in a cold heating network | all owners | active, 25 %, max. 1.500 EUR |
Since the revision 2026, detached houses are no longer eligible for funding under progres.nrw geothermal energy, only existing multi-family buildings with 3 W housing units or more. Applications are handled by Bezirksregierung Arnsberg.
For private individuals, the federal KfW 458 funding is also the main route, and can be combined with progres.nrw. Individual cities such as Düsseldorf offer additional local programmes, with details in the relevant city document.
The development bank for housing programmes is NRW.Bank. progres.nrw is administered by Bezirksregierung Arnsberg. Advice is provided by NRW.Energy4Climate and Verbraucherzentrale NRW.
Water law: geothermal energy and groundwater
Ground-source probes and groundwater heat pumps require a permit under water law in North Rhine-Westphalia under the Landeswassergesetz NRW (LWG NRW). The lower water authority in the district or independent city is responsible.
Near-surface geothermal energy down to 400 metres is not covered by the Bundesberggesetz. For drilling deeper than 100 metres, you must also notify the mining authority, Bezirksregierung Arnsberg, Department 6.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Ground-source probe/groundwater heat pump | permit under water law required |
| Drilling over 100 m up to 400 m | additional notification to the mining authority |
| Water protection areas | Special rules, often restrictive |
| Geological data | Geologischer Dienst NRW |
The Geologischer Dienst NRW provides hydrogeological assessments for the water authorities.
PROVIDERS
Building regulations: noise protection and minimum clearance
The Landesbauordnung NRW (BauO NRW) was revised on 1 January 2024. Under § 6 Abs. 8 sentence 1 no. 6 BauO NRW, heat pumps, including their enclosure, no longer require their own clearance area, with no fixed height limit.
A length limit still applies: § 6 Abs. 8 sentence 3 BauO NRW caps the total length of all privileged installations at 9 metres per neighbouring boundary and 18 metres in total.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Own clearance area since 1.1.2024 | no longer required (§ 6 Abs. 8 sentence 1 no. 6 BauO NRW) |
| Length limit | 9 m per boundary, 18 m in total (§ 6 Abs. 8 sentence 3 BauO NRW) |
| Planning application | no procedure required (§ 62 Abs. 1 no. 4 lit. d BauO NRW) |
| Installation at the property boundary | generally permitted, within the length limit |
| Standard | TA Lärm |
Development plans, local building regulations and TA Lärm still apply.
Key authorities in the state
Bezirksregierung Arnsberg
Bezirksregierung Arnsberg administers the progres.nrw programme and is the application point for notifications under mining law.
Public telephone line: 02931 82-0
NRW.Energy4Climate
NRW.Energy4Climate is the state energy agency and operates the Kompetenzzentrum Wärmewende NRW.
NRW.Bank
NRW.Bank is the state development bank for housing and renovation loans.
Service Centre telephone: 0211 91741-4800
Geologischer Dienst NRW
Geologischer Dienst provides the hydrogeological data basis for geothermal projects.
Lower water authorities
The lower water authorities are located in the 31 districts and 22 independent cities.
Verbraucherzentrale NRW
Verbraucherzentrale NRW provides energy advice at more than 60 locations. Contact is via an online contact form or the individual advice centres.
verbraucherzentrale.nrw/kontakt
Status of municipal heat planning
North Rhine-Westphalia has 30 large cities with over 100.000 inhabitants. Since 20 December 2024, the Landeswärmeplanungsgesetz has implemented the Bundes-Wärmeplanungsgesetz.
Details on the status in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Essen are in the relevant city document. The other large cities are at different stages before the deadline of 30 June 2026. For municipalities with fewer than 100.000 inhabitants, the deadline is 30 June 2028.
As the most populous federal state, NRW receives particularly substantial federal funding for heat planning. Check the status for your city on the city administration's website or with NRW.Energy4Climate.
Frequently asked questions
What funding applies in NRW for a ground-source heat pump?
Federal KfW 458 funding and progres.nrw. Since the revision 2026, the existing-building bonus for geothermal energy and the drilling-per-metre grant apply only to existing multi-family buildings with 3 W housing units or more, no longer to detached houses. Both programmes can be combined.
Who administers progres.nrw funding?
Bezirksregierung Arnsberg is responsible throughout the state, regardless of where you live. Applications are submitted exclusively through the online portal.
Do I need to maintain a minimum distance from my neighbour for the outdoor unit?
A separate clearance area has no longer been required since 1 January 2024. However, a length limit applies: all privileged installations together may occupy no more than 9 metres per neighbouring boundary and 18 metres in total. A planning application is generally not required, but local development plans and TA Lärm still apply.
Does my city already have a heat plan?
You can find the status for Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Essen in the relevant city document. For other cities, check your city administration's website or NRW.Energy4Climate.
When was the NRW heat planning law adopted?
Adopted by the Landtag on 4 December 2024, entered into force on 20 December 2024.
Currency note
The NRW funding landscape continues to develop, in particular the KfW-458 conditions change on 21 July 2026. Check the current status with progres.nrw and NRW.Energy4Climate.