The Canton of Thurgau pays no direct photovoltaic incentive – the base incentive is the federal one-off feed-in incentive. Three cantonal side channels are worth noting, though: the CHF 1,000 battery storage contribution (the 2026 quota is already exhausted, a waiting list is running), the additional contribution of CHF 20/m² for insulation combined with a PV system, and CHF 3,000 extra when a heat pump and a new PV system are combined. On top there are municipal programmes and the tax deduction. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- Direct cantonal PV contributions: none in Thurgau – as in most cantons, PV support runs via the federal one-off feed-in incentive (Pronovo).
- Instead, the canton subsidises battery storage for solar systems with CHF 1,000 – though the annual quota of 700 applications was exhausted early in 2026.
- Two hidden PV bonuses: +CHF 20/m² for insulation combined with a solar system, and +CHF 3,000 for combining a ground-source heat pump with a new PV system (single-family home).
- Frauenfeld automatically adds 30 percent on top of cantonal contributions; over a dozen other municipalities run their own programmes.
- For tax purposes, the five-year rule applies in Thurgau: energy investments are deductible provided the building is at least five years old.
What does the federal government pay – regardless of canton?
As everywhere, the base in Thurgau is the one-off feed-in incentive (EIV) via Pronovo – currently around CHF 360 per kWp for the typical rooftop system, so around CHF 3,600 for 10 kWp. Worth noting for the region: for steep systems with an inclination of at least 75 degrees – such as façade PV – the federal government pays an additional inclination bonus; such systems deliver above-average winter power. The path to the money runs via a cleanly submitted Pronovo application.
As of July 2026; Pronovo's current rates apply.
Does the Canton of Thurgau subsidise photovoltaics directly?
No – you'll search the cantonal incentive programme in vain for a contribution per kWp; the «Solarstromanlagen» chapter simply refers to the federal incentive. But read more closely and you'll find three channels through which the canton indirectly co-finances solar projects:
| Channel side path | Contribution | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Battery storage for solar systems | CHF 1,000 per system | usable capacity from 10 kWh; max. 25% of the investment |
| Insulation + PV: additional contribution on insulated areas | + CHF 20/m² insulation material (max. CHF 50,000) | PV system with at least 30 W/m² EBF on the subsidised area |
| Heat pump + PV: additional contribution for the solar power system | + CHF 3,000 (single-family home) | Ground-probe/groundwater heat pump up to 70 kW plus new PV system with at least 30 W/m² EBF |
Guideline values according to the Canton of Thurgau's 2026 Energy Incentive Programme (as of: 1 July 2026). The two additional PV contributions cannot be combined with each other; the current incentive conditions and the incentive calculator (foerdergeldrechner.tg.ch) are decisive.
Battery storage: Thurgau's special approach – with a catch
Thurgau is one of the few cantons that subsidises home batteries directly: CHF 1,000 per system, provided the battery has at least 10 kWh of usable capacity, is professionally installed, and is part of an existing or planned grid-connected solar system. A side note: the operator agrees to make 10 percent of the capacity available to the utility on request, for a fee – the canton explicitly also subsidises the battery as a contribution to grid stability.
The catch is the quota: the incentive category is capped at 700 applications per year, and in 2026 this quota was reached early due to high demand. New applications go onto a waiting list; if the incentive continues in 2027, they will be processed by submission date. Still: installation may nevertheless begin – for a later approval, the submission date counts. In practice this means: submit the application immediately anyway, even if the money only flows later. Whether the battery pays off independently of the incentive: Battery storage costs.
Which municipalities pay extra?
The municipal level is unusually well organised in Thurgau. Special case Frauenfeld: the city automatically adds 30 percent on top of cantonally subsidised building-envelope and Minergie measures – the application to the canton is enough, the city checks and pays separately, with no second form.
Beyond that, over a dozen towns and municipalities run their own energy incentive programmes, including Amriswil, Arbon, Kreuzlingen, Weinfelden, Diessenhofen and Tägerwilen – the content ranges, depending on the municipality, from PV to battery to advisory contributions, and changes continually. The reliable route remains the postcode check on energiefranken.ch plus a look at the municipality's website. And as everywhere: application before construction starts, budgets are limited.
Taxes in Thurgau: the five-year rule
Energy investments – including the solar system – can be deducted from taxable income in Thurgau, provided the building is at least five years old. This explicit five-year limit is Thurgau's answer to the question of when a building counts as «existing» – clearer than in some other cantons. For new construction this means: anyone retrofitting the solar system only in the sixth year can deduct it; at the time of construction itself it counts among the construction costs. Incentive contributions received must be correctly declared for tax purposes – the canton provides the data directly to the tax authority. Basics and examples: Tax deduction for solar systems.
How to proceed in Thurgau
1. Postcode check on energiefranken.ch and a look at the cantonal incentive calculator (foerdergeldrechner.tg.ch). 2. Submit applications before construction starts via the energy incentive portal (energiefoerderung.tg.ch) – the start of the energy measure itself counts as the start of construction; scaffolding or material delivery does not yet trigger the deadline. 3. Wait for the incentive approval (usually within a month) – starting construction beforehand is possible, but at your own risk. 4. After commissioning: close out the project in the portal, Pronovo application for the EIV, deduction in your tax return.
On ecoEn quotes for Thurgau, clarifying all the pots – federal, cantonal, municipal, the battery waiting list – is standard, including taking over the applications.
Thurgau's battery quota showed in 2026 just how quickly budget-limited programmes can tip over: anyone who submitted their application in spring got the approval – anyone who came in summer is on the waiting list. Our response is unspectacular: on combined projects, we submit the battery application on the day the contract is signed, not only once detailed planning is done. And the second Thurgau classic: the additional PV contributions for insulation and heating projects get forgotten because they sit in the incentive chapters of the other trades. Anyone renovating anyway should therefore clarify the solar question before the insulation or heating application – the bonus cannot be added on afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still get battery incentives in Thurgau in 2026?
The annual quota of 700 approvals was exhausted early in 2026; new applications go onto a waiting list and, if the programme continues in 2027, would be considered by submission date. It's still worth submitting immediately – and you may begin installation without an approval.
Does Thurgau subsidise air-to-water heat pumps?
The cantonal programme for air-to-water heat pumps up to 70 kW has been discontinued; ground-probe and groundwater heat pumps are subsidised (from CHF 9,000 for single-family homes), as are heating-network connections. When replacing decentralised electric heating, up to CHF 15,000 is still available for the new heat distribution system.
What does the additional PV contribution for insulation specifically bring?
Anyone insulating a roof or façade (base contribution CHF 40/m²) and installing a PV system with at least 30 W/m² of energy reference area on the renovated areas at the same time receives an additional CHF 20/m² of insulated area – up to CHF 50,000.
Where is the best place to sell my Thurgau solar power?
Besides feeding into the local utility, there are regional marketing channels such as the Solarstrom-Pool Thurgau or Thurgauer Naturstrom. We cover the grid operator's remuneration in the feed-in tariff guide Thurgau.
Can I combine cantonal and municipal contributions?
Yes, municipal programmes are generally cumulative; in Frauenfeld, the city's 30 percent surcharge even runs automatically via the cantonal application. Cantonal contributions cannot be combined with third-party programmes such as the KliK Foundation or Energie Zukunft Schweiz.
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Sources: Canton of Thurgau, Office for Energy (2026 Energy Incentive Programme, rates and conditions, as of 1 July 2026), energiefoerderung.tg.ch, foerdergeldrechner.tg.ch, Pronovo AG, energiefranken.ch.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
