Heat pump in the Canton of ObwaldenHeating system, Obwalden.

Permit: air-to-water and borehole

In the Canton of Obwalden, air-to-water heat pumps do not need an environmental permit from the Office for Agriculture and Environment. The noise limits must still be met, and a noise assessment is needed for the outdoor part. Since 1 July 2024, for air heat pumps in buildings outside the building zone, a notification to the commune on the building notification form is enough. We prepare the noise assessment and clarify the procedure with the commune.

Boreholes (ground probes) are approved by the Office for Agriculture and Environment. In groundwater protection zones and groundwater protection areas, no geothermal energy is used. The heat use map shows where drilling is possible.

Replacing your heating system: what the energy regulations require

Obwalden has no Energy Act of its own. The rules are set out in the Building Act and in the implementing provisions on energy use in buildings (GDB 710.112). They have applied since 1 January 2018 and implement the cantons’ model provisions of 2014. We check during the site visit which requirements apply in your case when an oil or gas heating system is replaced.

Subsidies in the Canton of Obwalden

About CHF 2.46 million is available for the energy subsidy programme in 2026. The focus is on replacing large fossil heating systems and fixed electric heating. According to the canton, the funds for systems above 70 kW and for the scrapping bonus for electric heating were used up early. We check the current status before the quote. The application must be submitted through the application portal before work starts. The amounts are given by the 2026 subsidy model, depending on heat pump type and output. More on this under heat pump and air-to-water heat pump.

Grid operator and electricity price

All seven communes are supplied by the Elektrizitätswerk Obwalden. The cantonal median is 26.5 ct./kWh excluding VAT, just below the Swiss median of 27.7 ct. We submit the connection application to the grid operator for you.

A special feature: older buildings and winter

About 58 percent of residential buildings were built before 1981, and around 25 percent heat with oil. For older buildings, we measure the flow temperature during the site visit and check whether the radiators are sufficient. At higher altitudes, we compare air-to-water and borehole. Heat pumps are already widespread in the canton, at 29 percent of buildings.