Solar panels

Why solar energy is profitable in Switzerland

Switzerland receives on average 1,000 to 1,400 kWh/m² of solar radiation per year, depending on the region. A 10 kWp installation (around 50 m² of roof) produces 10,000 to 12,000 kWh per year, the average consumption of a Swiss household. With rising electricity prices (doubled between 2022 and 2024 in several cantons), the profitability of photovoltaics has significantly improved.

Self-consumption: the main lever

The principle: consume on-site the electricity produced by your own panels. Each self-consumed kWh is valued at the supplier's sale rate (20-35 ct/kWh depending on canton and time of day), versus 5-12 ct/kWh for surplus injected into the grid. The higher your self-consumption rate, the more profitable your installation.

To maximise self-consumption, you can:

• Size the installation based on your consumption profile
• Add a storage battery (CHF 6,000 to 15,000)
• Control high-consumption appliances (heat pump, EV charger, water heater) based on production

Price of a photovoltaic installation in Switzerland

These prices include panels, inverter, installation, electrical connections and commissioning. They exclude the optional storage battery.

Pronovo subsidy (one-time rebate)

Pronovo manages two federal subsidy systems:

One-time rebate (RU): lump-sum subsidy paid at commissioning. For a 10 kWp installation, around CHF 4,000 to 6,000 depending on panel type and orientation.

One-time rebate for large installations (RIE/GRI): for installations > 100 kWp, a larger subsidy but with a tender process.

Cantonal aid can complement Pronovo: GEnergie (Geneva), the Building Programme, communal subsidies in certain cities.

Return on investment

For a 10 kWp installation in French-speaking Switzerland (2026):

• Total cost: CHF 22,000
• Pronovo subsidy: CHF 4,500
• Net investment: CHF 17,500
• Annual savings (self-consumption + resale): CHF 1,500 to 2,200
• Payback period: 8 to 12 years
• Panel lifespan: 25-30 years
• Net gain over 25 years: CHF 20,000 to 35,000

Swiss legislation

Since 2018, the federal energy law (LEne) has made residential photovoltaic installations easier. Building permits are often waived for non-protected rooftops. Listed areas and heritage zones require cantonal authorisation.

Every grid-connected installation must be reported to the local distribution network operator (Romande Energie, Services industriels de Genève, Groupe E, etc.) and comply with SIA 385 standards.

Maintenance and durability

Photovoltaic panels require little maintenance: annual cleaning (rain is often enough) and a visual inspection. The inverter, the most fragile component, has a lifespan of 10-15 years (plan for replacement once during the installation's life). Annual panel degradation is 0.3 to 0.5% per year.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Under-sizing out of price concerns - a larger installation generally increases profitability
2. Installing without a shading study (trees, chimneys, neighbouring buildings)
3. Choosing the cheapest inverter - it's the component that fails first
4. Forgetting insurance: check that your building insurance covers the installation (mandatory declaration)

Official sources

• Pronovo
• SwissEnergy - solar
• Swissolar - umbrella association