Pinch heat-recovery analysis grant
Grants help industrial and commercial production businesses analyse their heat use and identify ways to recover waste heat and reduce energy consumption.
A preliminary analysis identifies your main energy flows, estimates saving potential and checks whether a detailed Pinch analysis is worthwhile. A Pinch analysis examines how heat from one production process can be reused elsewhere, and compares practical measures, costs and payback.
The preliminary analysis receives up to 60% of eligible project costs. Detailed analyses normally receive up to 40%; from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2027, the published contribution for detailed analyses is 50% of their costs.
The Federal Office of Energy pays the contribution after it approves the project report. Payment goes to the Pinch advisor under a framework contract, or to the company for an analysis it carries out itself. The analysis files and any energy-module data must be given to the customer electronically.
Eligibility
- The programme supports analyses of thermal processes in industrial and commercial businesses.
- Before a preliminary analysis, you must already have a simple Sankey diagram or pie chart showing the main energy users in your business. A Sankey diagram shows how energy flows between processes.
- A preliminary analysis must have been completed before a detailed Pinch analysis.
- The analysis must be undertaken by specialists with recognised training in the Pinch method: certified advisors. They must use the official PinCH software; the Federal Office of Energy can approve other tools for testing or validation.
- The final report must describe relevant processes, energy and CO₂ savings, proposed measures, costs, economic viability and agreed next steps. It must explain omitted processes and assumptions. The detailed analysis must also assess heat-recovery options and already implemented measures; the Federal Office of Energy/EnergieSchweiz may publish its management summary.
How to apply
- Status
- Open continuously
- Round restrictions
- Contact a certified Pinch advisor or pinch@bfe.admin.ch about starting an analysis. The 50% contribution for detailed analyses applies from 1 April 2026 to 30 April 2027; these dates describe enhanced support.
Find a certified Pinch advisor using the search on the programme page. Discuss preliminary or detailed analysis support with the Federal Office of Energy at pinch@bfe.admin.ch; the company team is also available at entreprises@bfe.admin.ch. The advisor must meet the programme’s certification and software requirements, and payment follows approval of the completed report.