Bonn, December 20, 2023 –The sales of heat pumps are steadily increasing, despite the lack of planning certainty caused by the subsidy structure and the budget freeze. By the end of the third quarter of 2023, heat pump sales in Germany have already surpassed the total sales of the previous year. Energy providers can also contribute to the heat transition.
In times of rising energy prices, renewable energies are experiencing a surge in popularity – this is also evident in the heating sector. Sales of heat pumps have shown continuous growth in recent years: By the end of the third quarter of 2023, 295,500 heat pumps have been sold in Germany, surpassing the total sales figures for 2022, with 236,000 heat pumps sold.
Some energy suppliers have already begun offering heat pumps to their customers. With the goal of reaching a total of 6 million heat pumps by 2030[1], there is a significant opportunity for energy suppliers to contribute to the advancement of the heat transition.
However, the reporting on the German heat pump market often appears contradictory. The figures for funding applications in the BAFA statistics suggest a significant decline. In 2022, an average of 29,060 applications were submitted monthly, whereas in 2023, the number is currently around 7,845 per month, indicating a 73 percent decrease[2]. The constantly changing and opaque funding framework for end customers, as well as the current budget freeze that has halted the acceptance and approval of applications further complicate this situation[3].
However, it is important to distinguish between sales or customer demand for heat pumps and the number of subsidy applications. Despite the decline in subsidy applications, the sales performance of heat pumps has remained strong from quarter to quarter. This indicates a sustained and growing demand for heat pumps. Furthermore, it is worth noting that some customers choose to finance their heat pumps without relying on subsidies. Based on the sales figures, it is evident that the German heat pump market is on track to meet or even exceed industry expectations and forecasts of 350,000 heat pumps sold by the end of 2023. While critics may have doubts, the figures show that the heat transition in Germany is well underway.
The growth of the heat pump market also presents opportunities for energy suppliers. Approximately 10 percent of German energy suppliers surveyed in 2023 offer heat pumps to their end customers. Among larger energy suppliers, this percentage is even higher, exceeding 20 percent.
The Energiewende Award (Energy Transition Award) examines energy suppliers for their commitment and services, including the heating sector, and awards those suppliers who are particularly active in promoting the heating transition. The most recent award ceremony took place on June 15, 2023, and the upcoming ceremony is scheduled for June 20, 2024. The 2024 award ceremony will mark the first time that the award is open to international participants beyond the German-speaking countries. Representatives from European energy suppliers in France, Italy, and Denmark will also be invited to participate in the ceremony.
On June 20, 2024, the 8th Energiewende Award ceremony will take place at The smarter E Europe in Munich, Europe’s largest alliance of exhibitions for the energy industry, to celebrate and honour the most innovative energy suppliers who have shown exceptional commitment and progress in promoting the energy transition. The initiators of the project are The smarter E Europe and EUPD Research.
Further information on the Energiewende Award can be found at www.energiewende-award.de. If you have any questions, please contact Saif Islam (+49 (0) 228 504 36-20, islam[at]energiewende-award.de) or Giulia Piloni (+49 (0) 228 50435-55, g.piloni[at]eupd-research.com).
[2] https://www.bafa.de/DE/Energie/Energieeffizienz/Waermenetze/Effiziente_Waermenetze /effiziente_waermenetze_node.html