Heat pumps 850 euros cheaper by scrapping obligation

Now that the cabinet has drawn a line under the obligation to purchase at least a hybrid heat pump when replacing the central heating system starting in 2026, the price of heat pumps is going down fast.

So writes the AD after research. In 2023, the Netherlands was still going against the European trend, according to the report of the European Heat Pump Association. In it, our country gets another mention as a positive example, because stable policies stimulated the growth of heat pumps. This is in contrast to Italy, for example, where changes in support damaged consumer confidence. But in the meantime, a new political wind has been blowing here too, and parties opposed to a mandatory heat pump have gained the upper hand.

850 euros difference

That change means consumers are no longer lining up for a heat pump. Especially since gas prices remain relatively low. But because of that plan by then Minister Hugo de Jonge, the industry invested heavily in large supplies and training many hundreds of installers, and now it is struggling with that investment. Therefore, the industry is now trying to sell the heat pump with lower prices. According to Vereniging Eigen Huis, the difference from last year amounts to 850 euros for a standard hybrid heat pump. As a result, the payback period drops to about 5 to 6 years.

Innovation in the Netherlands

By the way, another reason the price is falling is that innovation is also taking place in the Netherlands. For example, new parties have entered the market that are cheaper. AD mentions the Dutch Quatt, which supplies a heat pump - including installation - for 3,000 euros. Then there is the also Dutch Weheat, which as of September supplies a hybrid heat pump for less than 700 euros, excluding installation. For both heat pumps, subsidies will be gone by then.

In terms of production, that price is about the bottom line, thinks Marijn Filipse, director of Quatt. In his opinion, the most important thing now is the installation. That is why his company makes the connection as simple as possible, something that Weheat is also working on.