The Canton of Zug pays no direct photovoltaic incentive per kWp – but it has a trick almost nobody knows about: anyone who combines thermal insulation with a new, full-surface PV system receives, on top of the insulation contribution of CHF 60 per m², a photovoltaic bonus of another CHF 60 per m². On top of that there is the federal one-off feed-in incentive, any municipal contributions and the tax deduction. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- Direct cantonal PV contributions per kWp: none in Canton Zug – the base incentive is the federal one-off feed-in incentive (currently around CHF 360 per kWp).
- Zug's special approach: when insulating a roof or façade, a simultaneously installed, full-surface PV system doubles the incentive contribution – from CHF 60 to CHF 120 per m².
- «Full-surface» means: modules on at least 50 percent of the insulated roof area, or 20 percent of the insulated façade area.
- The canton subsidises heat pumps generously – e.g. a flat CHF 8,500 for an air-to-water heat pump up to 30 kW.
- As everywhere: submit the incentive application before construction starts; individual municipalities and utilities pay extra.
What does the federal government pay – regardless of canton?
The foundation in Zug too is the one-off feed-in incentive (EIV) via Pronovo: currently around CHF 360 per kWp for systems up to 30 kWp, so around CHF 3,600 for the typical 10 kWp system. It is not budget-limited and not location-dependent – what matters is a cleanly submitted application.
As of July 2026; Pronovo's current rates apply.
Does the Canton of Zug subsidise photovoltaics directly?
A contribution per kWp, as the City of Zurich has, does not exist in Zug. The cantonal Energy Incentive Programme focuses on GEAK analyses, thermal insulation, heating replacement, heating networks and full renovations. Photovoltaics nevertheless appears at one decisive point – as a bonus within the insulation incentive. And it's a good one.
How does Zug's photovoltaic bonus work?
The logic: anyone insulating their roof or façade anyway should use the opportunity to plan in solar modules at the same time – after all, you don't redo a roof every ten years. The programme rewards this as follows:
| Measure | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Thermal insulation roof/façade (base contribution) | CHF 60/m² of insulated component |
| Photovoltaic bonus – when a new, full-surface PV system is installed at the same time | + CHF 60/m² |
| Full-renovation bonus | + CHF 30/m² |
Guideline values according to Canton Zug's Energy Incentive Programme, version 2026.1 (as of: 1 January 2026). The canton's current incentive conditions are decisive.
A system counts as full-surface if the modules cover at least 50 percent of the insulated area for a roof, or at least 20 percent for a façade. For a single-family home with 120 m² of insulated roof area, the bonus doubles the insulation contribution from CHF 7,200 to CHF 14,400 – on top of the EIV for the system itself. Anyone facing a roof renovation should therefore not put off the solar question to «later»: later, the bonus no longer applies.
Important for the process: the incentive application must be submitted before construction starts, and double subsidisation is not possible in every combination – clarify this before awarding the contract, not afterwards.
What is available for heat pumps and solar thermal?
Anyone combining the solar system with a heating replacement will find one of the more generous incentive pots in the region in Zug (selection):
- Air-to-water heat pump up to 30 kW: flat CHF 8,500
- Brine-to-water or water-to-water heat pump: CHF 20,000 plus CHF 400 per kW
- Solar collector system (solar thermal): CHF 1,200 plus CHF 500 per kW
- GEAK Plus with process consulting: CHF 1,500
Combining PV with a heat pump is therefore doubly attractive in Canton Zug: cantonal contribution for the heat pump, EIV for the solar system – and the self-produced electricity lowers the heating's running costs.
Guideline values, as of: January 2026 (version 2026.1). The Canton of Zug's current incentive conditions are binding.
Which municipalities and utilities pay extra?
Individual Zug municipalities and energy suppliers run their own programmes for photovoltaics or batteries. Here too: the programmes are budget-limited and change continually – the day-to-day, postcode-accurate overview is provided by energiefranken.ch. For fed-in electricity, WWZ, as the region's largest grid operator, publishes its feed-in remuneration annually; rates and context: Feed-in tariff WWZ.
And taxes?
Investments in renewable energy on existing buildings are also deductible from taxable income in Canton Zug – given Zug's already low tax rates, the effect in francs is smaller than in high-tax cantons, but it remains a relevant part of the overall calculation. Incentive contributions received must be correctly accounted for; there is no deduction for new construction. The basics: Tax deduction for solar systems.
Surprisingly few clients mention Zug's PV bonus on their own – it sits in the fine print of the insulation incentive, not under «solar». Yet it tips the calculation at exactly the moment it's most likely to tip: during a roof renovation that's due anyway. On such projects, we always look at both variants – renovation with and without simultaneous PV – and add up the bonus, the EIV and the avoided double cost of scaffolding. The result regularly comes out more favourable than the client would have expected.
Frequently asked questions
Does Canton Zug pay a contribution per kWp of solar capacity in 2026?
No. The base PV incentive is the federal one-off feed-in incentive. The canton subsidises photovoltaics indirectly – via the insulation bonus of CHF 60 per m² for simultaneous full-surface PV installation.
When does a PV system count as «full-surface»?
When the modules cover at least 50 percent of the insulated roof area, or at least 20 percent of the insulated façade area. The canton's incentive conditions (version 2026.1) are decisive.
Do I also get the bonus if the solar system comes only after the insulation?
No – the bonus requires the simultaneous installation of a new PV system. That's exactly why it's worth planning the solar question in from the start for every roof renovation.
Does Canton Zug subsidise battery storage?
In the 2026 cantonal programme, battery storage is not listed as a separate incentive item. Individual municipalities or utilities occasionally have programmes – the postcode check on energiefranken.ch shows this.
Does the application have to be submitted before construction starts?
Yes, without exception. Anyone who builds first and applies afterwards loses their entitlement. For combined projects (insulation + PV + heating), also clarify early which contributions can be combined – double subsidisation is not possible in every case.
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Sources: Canton of Zug, Energiefachstelle (2026 Energy Incentive Programme, version 2026.1 of 1 January 2026), energiefranken.ch, Pronovo AG.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
