Solar Incentives Switzerland 2026: All Contributions at a Glance

What incentive instruments exist in Switzerland?

Unlike in Germany, Switzerland no longer has an ongoing feed-in tariff for new small systems. Instead, the Swiss system relies on a one-off investment contribution plus tax relief:

Guideline values, as of: October 2026. The current provisions of Pronovo, the canton and the municipality are decisive.

The one-off feed-in incentive: how much do you get from the federal government?

The EIV is based on the installed capacity. For roof-mounted and free-standing systems commissioned by 31 March 2027, a rate of around CHF 360 per kWp applies for the capacity below 30 kWp, around CHF 300 for the part of the system from 30 to below 100 kWp and around CHF 250 from 100 kWp (integrated systems: around CHF 400 and 330 respectively). For systems below 30 kWp, the Federal Council has proposed an increase of CHF 40 per kWp from 1 April 2027; its final decision is what counts. Pronovo's tariff calculator for the date of commissioning is binding.

Three programmes need to be distinguished:

• KLEIV – for systems under 100 kW. This is the normal case for a single-family home: application after commissioning, payout after review.
• GREIV – for large systems from 100 kW, with its own process.
• HEIV – for systems without self-consumption (full feed-in), with higher rates. Interesting for example for barn roofs or pure yield roofs.

There are also bonuses for special systems, such as on covered parking areas or for systems with a steep tilt – details explained in the article KLEIV or GREIV?.

A practical example: a 10 kWp system currently gets around CHF 3,600, a 15 kWp system around CHF 5,400. Relative to typical system costs (see cost guide), the one-off feed-in incentive covers around 17 percent of the investment for a typical single-family home, according to the federal government, and more like 20 to 25 percent for larger systems – depending on the specific project.

How does the application process with Pronovo work?

The process is standardised, and as an installation company, we usually handle it for our clients. Roughly four steps:

1. Register the system: the application is submitted via the Pronovo portal – for KLEIV, after commissioning. 2. Certification: an accredited auditor or the utility confirms the system data (capacity, category, commissioning date). 3. Review by Pronovo: experience shows this takes a few months; the decision arrives in writing. 4. Payout to the account on file.

What timeframe to expect and which documents should be ready is covered in the detailed article Pronovo registration step by step as well as under Waiting times & deadlines.

Tax deduction: the underrated second contribution

Investments in renewable energy on existing buildings count, in most cantons, as deductible property maintenance costs – at the federal level too. In practice: you deduct the system costs (minus the one-off feed-in incentive) from your income in your tax return. What this brings in francs depends on your taxable income and municipality; for middle incomes, a four-figure amount quickly adds up.

Two points are often forgotten: for new construction, the deduction is generally not possible (the system counts as a construction cost of the property), and the one-off feed-in incentive must be correctly offset or declared as income – practice varies by canton. The details for our region: Tax deduction in the Canton of Zurich.

What do cantons and municipalities pay extra?

Direct cantonal contributions to photovoltaics have become rare – cantons concentrate their programmes on the building envelope and heating replacement (keyword building programme and heat pump incentives). At the municipal level it looks different: individual cities and utilities pay additional contributions per kWp, subsidise batteries or reward façade systems.

These programmes change continually and are often budget-limited – anyone who comes too late gets nothing. We maintain current overviews for our service area here:

• Incentives Canton of Zurich · City of Zurich · Winterthur
• Canton Aargau · Canton Zug · Canton Schwyz
• Canton of Basel-Landschaft · Canton of Basel-Stadt · Basel region

2027 update (9 November 2026): Many rates for 2027 are still open. The Canton of Zurich has not yet published its 2027 incentive programme (the 2026 programme applies); from 2027, the Confederation is capping its global contributions to the cantonal buildings programmes at a maximum of CHF 450 million per year (2027 relief package), and a new incentive model from 2028 is in consultation. From 1 January 2027, unless otherwise agreed, feed-in remuneration is based on the spot price, with the minimum remuneration as a floor for systems under 150 kW (Art. 12a EnV) – Feed-in tariff 2027.

In what order should you proceed?

The order decides whether everything runs smoothly:

1. Quote and planning – including clarifying which programmes apply at the location 2. Submit any municipal applications before construction starts (many municipalities only subsidise what was applied for before implementation!) 3. Notification procedure or building application with the municipality 4. Installation and commissioning with the utility 5. EIV application with Pronovo, then the tax deduction in your next tax return

The classic mistake: applying for municipal incentives only after construction has started. More on this in the article The most common mistakes with incentive applications.

Further guides

Photovoltaic installer for your regionOur serviceThe one-off feed-in incentive in detailRead morePronovo registrationRead moreTax deductionRead moreWhat does a solar system cost?Read more

Sources: Pronovo AG, Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE, EnergieSchweiz, cantonal energy offices.

Last updated: 9 November 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team