NewAlpha Innotec
alterra SWCV 63
Ground-source · natural refrigerant R290
New generation of the SWCV with the natural refrigerant R290. Modulating output up to 6 kW, passive cooling in the K version.
Geothermal heat pumps: cost, drilling and grants 2026.
I.ON designs, arranges the drilling for and installs ground-source heat pumps in the cantons of Vaud, Geneva, Fribourg and Neuchâtel. One contact for the drilling, the heat pump, the electrical work and the grant application.
- Free on-site study
- Detailed quote within 7 days
- Cantonal subsidies handled
- Direct installer
The essentials in 3 points
- A geothermal heat pump costs CHF 60,000 to CHF 75,000 for a house and CHF 80,000 to CHF 120,000 for a small apartment building, all included: drilling, masonry and installation.
- Vaud subsidises geothermal at CHF 20,000 for a single-family home, against CHF 5,000 for air-to-water. Geneva pays CHF 3,000 + CHF 800 per kW.
- Drilling needs a cantonal permit: allow 5 to 10 days on site once it is granted.
How it works
The ground keeps its heat in the depths of winter.
A vertical borehole of 60 to 200 m goes down into the subsoil. A liquid circulates in a closed loop and brings up the heat of the ground, which is stable all year round. The heat pump raises it to the temperature of your radiators or underfloor heating.
In very cold weather, an air-to-water heat pump loses efficiency, because the air it draws in is freezing. The geothermal borehole draws on ground that does not freeze: its efficiency stays stable in January. In summer, the same borehole can cool the house without running the compressor.
Prices and grants
Geothermal or air-to-water: the figures side by side.
Indicative gross prices in Western Switzerland, removal of the old heating included. The grants are those of the 2026 cantonal scales, for replacing oil, gas or electric heating.
| Criterion | Geothermal (ground-source) | Air-to-water |
|---|---|---|
| Gross installed price | CHF 60,000 to 75,000 (house) | CHF 32,000 to 48,000 |
| Vaud grant (single-family home) | CHF 20,000 (M-06) | CHF 5,000 (M-05) |
| Geneva grant | CHF 3,000 + CHF 800/kW | CHF 3,000 + CHF 400/kW |
| Seasonal efficiency (SCOP) | 4.5 to 5.5 | 3.5 to 4.5 |
| Outdoor unit | None | Yes, subject to noise rules |
| Summer cooling | Passive, through the borehole | Active, depending on model |
| Permit | Drilling subject to a cantonal permit | Procedure depends on canton and noise |
The conditions are detailed on our pages grants in the canton of Vaud and grants in Geneva. Sources: Building Programme 2026 conditions of the State of Vaud, M-06 fact sheet of the State of Geneva's GEnergie programme.
The job
Five steps, from the land to commissioning.
- 01
Thermal study and drilling feasibility
Calculation of the required output to SIA 384/2, then a check of the land: access for the drilling rig, groundwater protection zones, distances to the property boundaries. If drilling cannot be permitted, we tell you before the quote.
- 02
Permit and grant application
Drilling permit application to the canton and grant application filed before any order. Equipment delivered before the grant decision loses the Vaud grant.
- 03
Drilling the boreholes
Two, three or four vertical boreholes depending on the output and the subsoil, drilled by our GSP-certified partner drilling firms, as the Vaud grant requires. I.ON is GSP-certified too, but drilling is the only step we subcontract, so that it is done by specialists; we remain your single contact from start to commissioning.
- 04
Heat pump installation and removal of the old heating
Connection of the borehole, the heat pump and the heating circuit. Removal of the boiler and neutralisation of the oil tank in the same job.
- 05
Commissioning and settings
Setting of the heating curves and of passive cooling if you chose it, then monitoring through the first heating season.
The equipment
The geothermal heat pumps we install.
The new generations running on propane R290, a natural refrigerant. The model and output are set after the thermal study of your house.
New
NewVaillant
geoCOMPACT exclusive
Ground-source · R290 · built-in tank
Compact unit with the natural refrigerant R290 and a built-in hot water tank, flow temperature up to 75 °C. 5 kW version available, 8 and 11 kW announced.
Swiss madeCTA
Optiheat Terra All-in-One
Ground-source · R290 · 1 to 18 kW
Developed and built in Münsingen. SCOP of 5.3 (B0/W35), flow temperature up to 75 °C, free cooling, and so little propane that no on-site safety concept is required.
NewViessmann
Vitocal 300-G ie
Ground-source · R290 · 6 to 16 kW
New ground-source generation with the natural refrigerant R290, flow temperature up to 70 °C, optional built-in natural cooling.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions on geothermal.
How much does a geothermal heat pump cost in Western Switzerland?
+
Allow CHF 60,000 to CHF 75,000 for a house and CHF 80,000 to CHF 120,000 for a small apartment building, all included: drilling of two to four boreholes, masonry, heat pump and connections. Drilling is done by our GSP-certified partner drilling firms, the only step we subcontract. The quote details the drilling, the heat pump, the connection and the removal of the old heating.
What grant is there for geothermal in the canton of Vaud?
+
CHF 20,000 for a single-family home or an output below 20 kW (measure M-06 of the Building Programme 2026). Above 20 kW: CHF 4,000 + CHF 800 per kW. The application must be approved before any order or delivery of equipment.
What grant is there for geothermal in Geneva?
+
CHF 3,000 + CHF 800 per kW up to 70 kW (measure M-06), plus CHF 1,000 if a heat meter is installed. For a 10 kW heat pump, that is CHF 11,000, or CHF 12,000 with the meter. The application must reach the OCEN at least 14 days before work starts.
Is geothermal more cost-effective than an air-to-water heat pump?
+
It costs more to buy but uses less electricity: its SCOP is 4.5 to 5.5 against 3.5 to 4.5 for air-to-water. In the canton of Vaud, the CHF 15,000 difference in grants narrows the price gap considerably. The calculation is made case by case, with both options priced in the study.
Can my land take a geothermal borehole?
+
You need access for the drilling rig, a plot outside the groundwater protection zones where drilling is banned, and enough distance to the boundaries. We check these points on the cantonal maps before pricing the project.
How long does the job take?
+
5 to 10 days on site, drilling included, once the permit and the grant are granted. Your current heating stays in service until the switchover.
Is a geothermal heat pump noisy?
+
There is no outdoor unit: the heat pump is installed indoors, like a boiler. That is an advantage in dense neighbourhoods, where an air-to-water unit must meet noise limits at the property boundary.
To compare with the other technologies, see our heat pump page and the air-to-water vs geothermal comparison.
Learn more
Our heat pump guides
Heat pump
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Detailed comparison between air-to-water, ground-to-water (geothermal) and water-to-water heat pumps for Suisse romande in 2026. Costs, COP, site constraints.
Read the articlePompe à chaleurHeat pump grants in Vaud 2026: up to CHF 20,000
CHF 5,000 for an air-to-water heat pump, CHF 20,000 for geothermal in a single-family home, plus municipal grants and tax deductions: the Vaud amounts for 2026.
Read the articlePompe à chaleurHow much does a heat pump cost in French-speaking Switzerland in 2026?
Real 2026 heat pump prices by type and floor area in French-speaking Switzerland: gross costs, grants and effective net cost. Advice from I.ON Rolle (VD).
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