French heat pump grants require device to be made in Europe under new rules
Updated criteria for heat pump installation aid came into force this month
The French government has updated its eligibility criteria for grants to pay for the installation of heat pumps (pompes à chaleur) with the new rules coming into force on September 1.
A major grant known as the coup de pouce chauffage is now subject to additional conditions, aimed at European production of products as well as ensuring homes are greener once making the switch.
It comes after the government made the installation of heat pumps a major ecological goal over the coming years, with plans for up to a million installations per year by 2030.
This push includes inclusion of certain units in the MaPrimeRénov’ eco-grant scheme, covering up to 80% of the installation cost in some instances.
Other benefits to entice homeowners to install heat pumps includes a VAT drop, and a scheme from state electricity company EDF to part-finance 80,000 heat pumps.
Full information is available in our article here.
Top-up grant changes
The coup de pouce chauffage is an aid that partly funds the installation of certain ecological heating and hot water systems, including heat pumps.
Funding is not fixed and depends on household income (with the most modest households able to benefit from the highest funding) and location (household revenue thresholds are higher for those located in the capital Île-de-France region).
Household income is assessed at the N-2 level, so for grant requests in 2026 income from 2024 is assessed (found on your 2025 avis or tax notice).
However, funding can reach up to €6,880.
While parts of the scheme are available to both main and second homes, bonuses for installing a heat pump are only open to main home owners.
Properties must be at least two years old for owners to benefit from the grant.
Pumps that benefit from the grant are:
Air-to-water heat pumps (pompes à chaleur de type air/eau)
Water-to-water or brine-to-water heat pumps (pompes à chaleur de type eau/eau ou eau glycolée/eau)
Combined solar systems, combining a solar panel and a storage tank (systèmes solaire combiné)
As of September 1, the aid is dependent on the model belonging to a list of approved types.
This typically requires the pump to have been produced in an EU/EEA country, or for certain models have its final assembly take place in an EU/EEA country.
A list of models initially approved in a July 2026 decree is available here, although is subject to change.
A second new requirement for the aid is that properties installing a combined solar power system must fully ‘decarbonise’ to benefit.
“The work performed must not result in the installation or retention of a heating and/or domestic hot water system that includes any equipment capable of using fossil fuels,” explains the government on its Service Public website.
This may require certain homeowners to replace their hot water system – if it is a gas boiler – at the same time.
Note that for works to be funded, you must contact a company that has signed up to the ‘Coup de Pouce’ charter.
A list of companies, accurate as of July 2026, is available here via the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
The company will send you an offer to cover part of the costs – either by deducting the amount from your final bill, or sending the funds by cheque. You must get this agreement before signing an official devis (quote) for installation of the heat pump to benefit.
Those looking to install a heat pump can contact the France Rénov service for free advice, which will include ensuring the model they are looking at is eligible for the scheme, how to contact an eligible company, as well as information on how to benefit from other financial benefits for heat pump installation.
