Bafa innovation funding for heat pump possibly too late - what now?

So now here is my feedback after I made a lot of phone calls yesterday. Everyone says something different. At the BAFA call center, they told me that it is now too late if the system type is specified concretely. They also recommended a contract amendment, although the question is whether they will accept that. Then I received an email from BAFA with a specific text on the subject, which I do not want to withhold from you:

"As the project start counts a delivery or service contract regarding the applied-for heat pump. The development of the heat source (ground probe drilling, well drilling, installation of ground collector, etc.) does not count as project start. Here the application before project start in the innovation funding is therefore possible without any problem."

Furthermore the following:
"Prefabricated houses - project start
When selling prefabricated houses, it is usually the case that the heat pumps are already part of the purchase contract. As long as the specific heat pump types are not named here, this is unproblematic with regard to the project start. So the manufacturers of the heat pumps and the possible series may indeed be named in the purchase contract. These "general" details are not harmful to funding. Only if a purchase contract actually includes the specification of a concrete heat pump type is the application in the innovation funding no longer possible."

In our case, Viessmann Vitocal 200 G is listed in the annex to the construction contract - I thought, damn. I then called our general contractor, who has to answer these questions from uncertain builders every week. He said that Viessmann Vitocal is not yet a type designation but only identifies a series. The device still has to be specified more precisely based on heating load calculation. And therefore they have no problems with BAFA. Moreover, you only have 9 months until completion anyway, which you practically cannot meet. Therefore, you have to apply within the framework of the sanitary planning.

In summary, I now have to wait and hope that the general contractor is right.

The 9 months can be extended, according to BAFA. As mentioned, BAFA only received the application from us and, after a review with rejection and appeal including calculations from the manufacturer, approved the whole thing. So that should work for you too.

Hello,

I would also be interested to know how it turned out. We received a letter today... among other things, we are to submit a detailed invoice for the heat pump... we also built with a general contractor... accordingly, we do not have an invoice for the heat pump... I will have to call [BAFA] and ask...

Hello everyone,

I called BAFA and received the information that for a new building with a general contractor, the house purchase/construction contract with all additional agreements must be sent in.

Then we will do that and see^^

Best regards
Frank

Is the application to be submitted before the construction contract or only later during the sanitary planning?

Before the construction contract, and please with documents completed by the heating installer.