Geothermal pump costs: what geothermal heating really costs
The biggest cost block of geothermal heating is not the heat pump, but the drilling, and that is where you can move the most. This page breaks down the costs, with pricing examples by building type and its own section on the disadvantages.
Published 20.08.26 · Last review 20.08.26. Market prices and funding rates are revised annually.
How much does a geothermal heat pump cost including installation?
For a single-family home, the total investment is typically around 25 000 to 45 000 euros or francs. It is divided into four blocks:
brine-to-water heat pump
12 000 – 18 000
Device including memory and control
Drilling including borehole heat exchanger
9 000 – 15 000
the block determined by the well diameter, see below
Installation and hydraulics
4 000 – 8 000
Connection, disassembly of the old heating, commissioning
Additional costs
1 000 – 3 000
Authorisation, electrical connection, earthworks
Market values for the region CH/DE/AT, Level 08/26, No separatus prices. Swiss prices in francs are typically at the top of the ranges. Before deduction of grants.
Start the separatus calculator: your key data in, your cost comparison out, in a few minutes.
What does a 100-m drilling for geothermal energy cost?
The market anchor shall be: 50 to 100 euros per drilled meter. A 100-meter drilling thus costs roughly 5 000 to 10 000 euros, each plus probe, backfilling and connection to the house. This is a market value from industry surveys, not a separateus price indication. The actual meter price depends on geology, region and equipment size.
How many metres it takes determines the heating requirement of the building: A single-family house often manages with one or two probes, a multi-family house needs a probe field. The price examples below show typical orders of magnitude.
What makes up the drilling costs
Drilling rig and mobilization, the drilled metres, probe and installation, borehole grouting, permit. The lever behind almost all positions is the same: the borehole diameter determines the size of the drilling tool and thus the price.
The separatus-Splitpipe is a 51 mm probe and manages with significantly narrower boreholes than a double U-tube BHE with its 132 mm. This directly affects the costs through:
Drilling costs
−15 %
108 mm instead of 132 mm borehole, with today's large device, substanceiated
Total cost of the borehole heat exchanger installation
−15 %
108 mm instead of 132 mm borehole
Savings on the complete heating system
5,4 %
same well counted on the entire investment including heat pump, storage and installation
The 15 % apply to the borehole heat exchanger system, i.e. drilling, probe, borehole grouting and connection. On the entire investment, including heat pump, storage and installation, remain 5,4 %. It is the same savings, calculated only on two different reference values.
More about the technology behind it: Splitpipe borehole heat exchanger (Splitpipe BHE)
Price examples by building type
| Building type | System size | Drilling meters (typical) | Heating system including heat pump and heat source: total investmentCHFEUR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family house, new building | approx. 6 kW | 150 m (1–2 probes) | 28 000 – 38 000 |
| Single-family house, old building with radiators | approx. 10 kW | 250 m (2 probes) | 38 000 – 52 000 |
| Multi-family buildings | approx. 20 kW | Approximately 500 m (probe field) | 70 000 – 95 000 |
The calculator compares geothermal energy and air heat pump with your own key data.
What does geothermal energy cost monthly?
Monthly costs determine efficiency. The annual working coefficient (JAZ) says how many kilowatt-hours of heat become from one kilowatt-hour of electricity, for geothermal 4,6, for an air-to-water heat pump 3,1 (Field measurements of the University of Applied Sciences OST).
The invoice, disclosed
Example: Single-family house with 20 000 kWh heat demand per year, electricity price 30 cent or cent per kWh (market assumption, as of 08/26):)
- geothermal energy: 20 000 ÷ 4,6 ≈ 4 350 kWh Current → around 1 300 per year, a good 100 per month
- Air-to-water WP: 20 000 ÷ 3,1 ≈ 6 450 kWh Current → around 1 950 per year, a good 160 per month
In addition, for both systems, annual maintenance is required; The Earth probe itself is maintenance-free.
Over 25 years
| geothermal energy | Air-to-water WP | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase | Higher (and higher) | Deep |
| Electricity, 25 years | ≈ 33 000 | ≈ 48 000 |
| maintenance | probe maintenance-free | Exterior unit exposed to weather and wear |
| Duration | probe survives the heat pump | Outdoor device ages faster |
| Total costs over the useful life | 7,6 % cheaper | Reference |
Full cost value: separatus canon over 25 years
Who is a geothermal heat pump worth?
Replace heating in the old building
Oil or gas out, geothermal energy in, even with existing radiators. The narrow bore fits between house, trees and terrace: no garden renovation, no large drilling area.
New building with long horizon
Over the service life, geothermal energy is cheaper than an air-to-water heat pump, and cools passively in summer, without air conditioner.
Small plot
So far, little space has been the knock-out criterion. With the 108 mm borehole of the Splitpipe probe (instead of 132 mm conventionally) a compact drilling tool without a large drill surface is sufficient.
What are the disadvantages of a geothermal heat pump?
- Higher initial investment. The drilling is added to the equipment price. It pays for the lower operating costs, but only for years.
- Check local specifications. Whether approval, notification or further proof is necessary depends on the location. The drilling partner clarifies requirements and procedures before construction begins.
- Not every property is suitable. It needs access for a drill, with the narrow bore a much smaller one than before, but not none.
- Construction site in the garden. Drill days, equipment, drill cuttings. For 100 mm instead of 132 mm borehole, 43 is less than drill cuttings. Less, not nothing.
- Geology decides. metre price and probe length depend on the subsurface; It will only become binding with the design / system sizing of the drilling partner.
- Plan cooling suitable for the building. In addition to floor or wall heating, suitable fan coils can be used. In the case of existing radiators, the suitability, the possible cooling performance and the condensation water protection shall be tested on a case-by-case basis.
Costs in Austria
The investment costs in Austria are in the same ranges as above. The difference lies in the subsidies, which can push the final price much harder. Federal and state governments promote the exchange of fossil heating; the rates change annually and partly during the year (details in the funding section below).
Splitpipe probes will be installed in Austria via regional drill partners; Permits are based on the respective state law and the water law law.
Support
Funding contributions significantly reduce the initial investment, but change annually. The current commitment of the funding agency is always binding. Check before the offer, not after.
Status: 20.08.2026. This section shall be reviewed annuallySwitzerland
Cantonal funding programmes coordinated by the building programme: contributions for the replacement of fossil heating systems by heat pumps, in many cantons with additional contribution for borehole heat exchangers. Responsible is the canton of the building location.
Germany
Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG): Subsidies for heating exchange on heat pumps, with bonus for geothermal energy as heat source; Drilling costs are eligible costs. submit an application before awarding the contract.
Austria
Federal support for the boiler exchange (“out of oil and gas”) plus state support, combinable. Budgets are quotated. Registration before project start secures the sentence.
Enough examples. Let's count on your building.
Heat demand, location, today's heating. The separatus calculator makes it your personal cost comparison between geothermal energy and air-heat pump.
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