ᐅ BAFA Innovation Grant for Heat Pumps Possibly Too Late – What Now?
Created on: 14 Oct 2016 23:33
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Redsonic
Hello everyone,
We are installing a brine-ground source heat pump in our newly built house and hired a general contractor for the overall project at the end of May. The construction contract also includes the ground source heat system and guarantees an annual performance factor of 4.5. The documents are currently with the building authority, and we are waiting.
However, you are mostly left on your own when it comes to adhering to various regulations, and everyone just refers to subsequent trades, saying that many details will be clarified later. I just have the BAFA application for innovation funding for an efficient heat pump in front of me. There is a grant amount of 4,500 EUR available. However, the application must be submitted BEFORE the start of the project. For general contractor contracts, the start of the project is considered the date of the construction contract once a renewable energy concept is specified.
My question to you: is the 4,500 EUR already lost? Is it settled like that, or can you still argue that the contract for the drilling is not yet signed, etc.? I could really lose my mind if that were the case, but that is what I am reading everywhere.
Thanks and best regards, Redsonic
We are installing a brine-ground source heat pump in our newly built house and hired a general contractor for the overall project at the end of May. The construction contract also includes the ground source heat system and guarantees an annual performance factor of 4.5. The documents are currently with the building authority, and we are waiting.
However, you are mostly left on your own when it comes to adhering to various regulations, and everyone just refers to subsequent trades, saying that many details will be clarified later. I just have the BAFA application for innovation funding for an efficient heat pump in front of me. There is a grant amount of 4,500 EUR available. However, the application must be submitted BEFORE the start of the project. For general contractor contracts, the start of the project is considered the date of the construction contract once a renewable energy concept is specified.
My question to you: is the 4,500 EUR already lost? Is it settled like that, or can you still argue that the contract for the drilling is not yet signed, etc.? I could really lose my mind if that were the case, but that is what I am reading everywhere.
Thanks and best regards, Redsonic
So here is my feedback after making many phone calls yesterday. Everyone says something different. At the BAFA call center, I was told that it is now too late if the specific system type is already named. They also recommended a contract amendment, although it is uncertain whether they will accept that. Then I received an email from BAFA with a specific statement on the topic, which I would like to share with you:
"The start of the project is considered the signing of a delivery or service contract related to the applied-for heat pump. The development of the heat source (ground probe drilling, well drilling, installation of ground heat collector, etc.) is not considered the project start. Therefore, submitting the application before the project start is possible without any issues within the innovation funding program."
Furthermore, the following:
"Prefabricated houses – Project start
When selling prefabricated houses, it is usually the case that heat pumps are already included in the purchase contract. As long as the specific heat pump models are not named, this does not cause problems regarding the project start. It is allowed to name the manufacturers and the possible product lines of the heat pumps in the purchase contract. These 'general' details do not affect funding eligibility. Only if the purchase contract specifies the exact heat pump model does the application for innovation funding become impossible."
In our case, the Viessmann Vitocal 200 G is listed in the appendix to the main contract – so I thought, this is bad. I then called our general contractor (GC), who deals with these questions from concerned homeowners every week. He said that Viessmann Vitocal is not yet a specific model designation but only identifies a product line. The device still needs to be specified in more detail after the heating load calculation. That’s why they don’t expect any problems with BAFA. Especially since there is only a nine-month period until completion, which is practically hard to meet anyway. Therefore, the application must be made during the plumbing planning phase.
In summary, I now have to wait and hope that the GC is right.
"The start of the project is considered the signing of a delivery or service contract related to the applied-for heat pump. The development of the heat source (ground probe drilling, well drilling, installation of ground heat collector, etc.) is not considered the project start. Therefore, submitting the application before the project start is possible without any issues within the innovation funding program."
Furthermore, the following:
"Prefabricated houses – Project start
When selling prefabricated houses, it is usually the case that heat pumps are already included in the purchase contract. As long as the specific heat pump models are not named, this does not cause problems regarding the project start. It is allowed to name the manufacturers and the possible product lines of the heat pumps in the purchase contract. These 'general' details do not affect funding eligibility. Only if the purchase contract specifies the exact heat pump model does the application for innovation funding become impossible."
In our case, the Viessmann Vitocal 200 G is listed in the appendix to the main contract – so I thought, this is bad. I then called our general contractor (GC), who deals with these questions from concerned homeowners every week. He said that Viessmann Vitocal is not yet a specific model designation but only identifies a product line. The device still needs to be specified in more detail after the heating load calculation. That’s why they don’t expect any problems with BAFA. Especially since there is only a nine-month period until completion, which is practically hard to meet anyway. Therefore, the application must be made during the plumbing planning phase.
In summary, I now have to wait and hope that the GC is right.
The 9-month period can be extended, according to BAFA. As I said, BAFA only received our application and after a review process involving an initial rejection, an appeal, and calculations from the manufacturer, the whole thing was approved. So this should work for you as well.
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gellie300317 Feb 2017 21:05Hello,
I am also interested in how it turned out.
Today, we received a letter requesting, among other things, a detailed invoice for the heat pump. We also built with a general contractor, so we don’t have a separate invoice for the heat pump. I will have to call BAFA and ask.
I am also interested in how it turned out.
Today, we received a letter requesting, among other things, a detailed invoice for the heat pump. We also built with a general contractor, so we don’t have a separate invoice for the heat pump. I will have to call BAFA and ask.
G
gellie30031 Mar 2017 20:54Hello everyone,
I called BAFA and was informed that for a new build with a general contractor, the house purchase/build contract along with all additional agreements must be submitted.
We will go ahead and do that then and see how it goes^^
Kind regards
Frank
I called BAFA and was informed that for a new build with a general contractor, the house purchase/build contract along with all additional agreements must be submitted.
We will go ahead and do that then and see how it goes^^
Kind regards
Frank
W
winnetou7815 Sep 2017 14:03Before signing the construction contract, and please with documents completed by the heating system installer.
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