Imagine: You heat your house with electricity that the sun produces directly on your own roof. No expensive electricity bills anymore. No dependency on gas prices. And the state pays a large part of the bill.
Exactly this is what makes the combination of photovoltaics and heat pump 2026 worthwhile. The combination is currently one of the most economical and environmentally friendly solutions for German homeowners. Here you'll learn why the combination pays off so extremely well, what costs and savings are realistic, and how to get the maximum out of it.
A heat pump needs electricity, and exactly that's what your own photovoltaics system delivers cost-free. The combination reduces your heating costs to an absolute minimum. Instead of buying expensive grid electricity, you use your own solar power. This not only saves money, but also makes you more independent and climate-friendly.
The clou: With KfW 270 (heat pump) and KfW 271 (solar), you can fund both systems together, and get up to 70% grant plus repayment grant.
| Item | Costs (approx.) | After Funding | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| PV System (5 kWp) | €8,000–12,000 | Significantly cheaper | Incl. battery possible |
| Heat pump | €20,000–35,000 | €6,000–10,500 | At 70% KfW 270 |
| Total investment | €28,000–47,000 | €14,000–25,000 | Combo funding |
| Savings vs. gas | – | 60–80% per year | Realistic annual savings |
Realistic annual savings: For a 150 m² house, often €1,500–2,500 less heating and electricity costs. The complete system usually pays for itself in 5–7 years.
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Open free calculator now →PV size: at least 5 kWp A 5–8 kWp system fits perfectly with a heat pump. It covers the high electricity demand of heating in winter and the remaining household electricity in summer.
Install battery (increase self-consumption from 30% to 60–70%) Without battery, you only consume about 30% of your solar power yourself. With a modern battery (e.g., 5–10 kWh), you double self-consumption, and thus also the savings.
Smart home control Intelligent systems (e.g., from SMA, Fronius, or tado) automatically switch the heat pump high when the sun is shining. So you heat exactly when electricity is free.
Choose JAZ ≥ 4.0 Pick an efficient heat pump with a high annual performance factor. This brings you not only the 20% efficiency bonus at KfW, but also massively reduces electricity demand.
The savings of 60 to 80% compared to gas come from three building blocks. First, the heat pump lowers the heat price, because at a JAZ of 3.5 the delivered kWh of heat costs only about 0.086 EUR instead of 0.12 EUR with gas. Second, your own solar power replaces part of the expensive grid power that the heat pump and the household would otherwise have to buy. Third, the funding adds up: up to 70% grant through KfW 270 and the repayment grant through KfW 271.
For a 150 m² house, that adds up to 1,500 to 2,500 EUR less in heating and electricity costs per year. With a total investment of 14,000 to 25,000 EUR after funding, the whole system pays for itself in five to seven years. After that, the saved amount belongs to you year after year, and the independence from gas prices is a value no table can capture.
❓ Does the combination pay off even in a smaller house?
Yes! Even from 4 kWp PV and a small heat pump, the combination pays off excellently, especially with high funding.
❓ How much funding do I really get together?
Up to 70% on the heat pump (KfW 270) plus repayment grant up to 20% on the PV system (KfW 271). Many achieve over 50% total funding on the complete project.
❓ Do I need a large battery?
Not necessarily, but it almost always pays off. Even a medium-sized battery turns "quite good" into a really strong economy.
❓ Does the combo also work in old buildings?
Absolutely! Especially in old buildings, the combination of insulation + heat pump + PV is particularly effective, because the state gives the highest bonuses here.