In most cases, yes – especially if a good share of the solar power is used in your own home. Self-produced electricity is cheaper than grid electricity, and on top come the one-off feed-in incentive and the tax deduction. How quickly the investment pays for itself depends on consumption, roof, electricity price and feed-in tariff. (As of July 2026)
Key points in brief
- The economic core is self-consumption: every self-consumed kilowatt-hour replaces more expensive grid electricity.
- The exported surplus is remunerated by the grid operator – tariffs differ considerably from utility to utility.
- A heat pump and EV improve the calculation significantly because they increase self-consumption.
- There are constellations in which we honestly advise against it – for example heavily shaded north-facing roofs or an imminent house sale with no intention to renovate.
- Blanket return promises are unprofessional; the calculation is individual.
What makes up the benefit of a solar system?
Three cash flows decide the economics:
| Cash flow | What's behind it | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Saved electricity costs | self-consumed solar power replaces grid electricity | the most important item – depending on your utility's electricity price |
| Export | surplus is sold to the grid | differs by utility and year |
| One-off contributions | One-off feed-in incentive + tax deduction | reduce the investment noticeably |
As of July 2026. The specific values depend on your grid operator and your tax situation.
The order is no coincidence: self-consumption carries the most weight. Depending on the municipality, grid electricity costs significantly more than export brings in – anyone who uses a lot of their own electricity directly is better off than someone who exports almost everything. The most effective levers for this are described in the article Optimising self-consumption.
Which factors decide the calculation?
Your electricity consumption and its time profile. A household with 6,500 kWh annual consumption, a heat pump and home office uses much more solar power directly than a two-person household that's out during the day.
The roof. South, east-west or flat roof all work – with different profiles. East-west roofs deliver power spread more evenly over the day, which even benefits self-consumption. What's critical is less the orientation than heavy shading.
Your utility's electricity price. The more expensive your grid electricity, the more valuable every self-produced kilowatt-hour. Electricity prices differ considerably between municipalities in the supply area.
The feed-in tariff. It determines what the surplus brings in – and fluctuates by utility and year. The overview for our region: Feed-in tariffs compared.
Heat pump and EV. Both shift large consumption into your own home. Combined with PV, heating and mobility partly run on your own electricity – the articles Heat pump on solar power and Surplus charging show how this works.
Has the calculation changed in 2026?
Yes – and at a point where many homeowners still have the 2022 figures in mind. The federal reference market price, which many grid operators use as a guide, was 10.266 centimes per kWh in the first quarter of 2026 and 3.896 centimes in the second quarter (Swiss Federal Office of Energy, published on 14 July 2026). Anyone who reckoned with remuneration of around 15 centimes in 2022 is now reckoning with a fraction of that.
Three things cushion this – and they're the reason why the answer is still usually «yes»:
- The minimum remuneration. For systems up to 30 kW, a statutory floor of 6 centimes per kWh applies – this affects practically every single-family home. For larger systems between 30 and 150 kW, a formula applies instead (180 francs per kW), which reduces protection as system size grows; for commercial roofs, self-consumption is therefore even more decisive.
- Your grid operator. The differences are bigger than the difference between two systems: in 2026, ewz pays an average of 12.91 Rp./kWh, AEW in Aargau 8.2 Rp. fixed including guarantee of origin, and EKZ and many municipal utilities follow the quarterly federal model. Which tariff applies to you: Feed-in tariffs compared.
- Self-consumption. Every self-consumed kilowatt-hour replaces grid electricity at the full price – and that's a multiple of the export remuneration. This is exactly where the logic has shifted: in 2026, the value is created in the house, not at the grid connection.
What this means in practice: today, the system is sized according to your consumption profile, not the maximum coverable roof area. Heat pump, EV and storage are no longer extras but the items that carry the calculation. And: the range in the section above applies to systems with high self-consumption – anyone who exports almost everything is well above it today.
Reference market price: SFOE, publication of 14 July 2026 (Q1 and Q2 2026); minimum remuneration according to the Energy Promotion Ordinance; tariff information from the utilities mentioned, as of September 2026. The reference market price is reset quarterly – the current publication applies.
When does the system pay off – and how quickly?
The honest answer: there's no universal figure, and anyone who gives you an exact payback period without looking at the roof and consumption is sugar-coating it. Depending on consumption, roof orientation, electricity price and tariff trends, the payback period typically ranges from around ten to fifteen years – with a system lifetime of 25 to 30 years or more. In other words: after the payback phase, the system produces electricity for many years whose costs are essentially paid off.
Often more revealing than the payback period is a look at the levelised cost: what does the self-produced kilowatt-hour cost over the lifetime? For well-planned systems, this value is well below the grid electricity price – you'll find the derivation in the article Levelised cost of solar power.
When is it rather not worth it?
Honesty includes this too. We're cautious in these cases:
- Heavily shaded roofs – a neighbour's large tree or a high-rise to the south can't be optimised away. First check: reading sonnendach.ch correctly.
- Roofs in need of renovation when renovation isn't due: roof first, then modules – otherwise you pay for dismantling twice. Better to combine: Roof renovation & PV.
- Very low consumption with no prospects – an economical two-person household without a heat pump, without EV plans and with a low feed-in tariff has the longest payback. Here, it's at least worth asking whether the situation will change in the next few years.
- Imminent sale, if the system isn't intended as a selling point.
In short: not every roof has to be covered immediately. But cases where it doesn't pay off at all are rarer than many think. The full trade-off – what speaks for the system, what against it and what is often exaggerated: Advantages and disadvantages of a solar system.
What about the increase in property value?
A solar system – especially in combination with a heat pump – improves a property's energy performance and is increasingly an argument when selling. This effect can't be quantified reliably across the board; it depends on the market and the condition of the building. What happens to the system when ownership changes is explained in the article Selling a house with PV.
The most common misunderstanding in consultations: "The feed-in tariff is low, so the system isn't worth it." This calculation misses the core – the savings come primarily from your own consumption, not from selling the surplus. Conversely, we also see the opposite: systems planned for maximum export rather than your own consumption profile. Both lead to disappointed expectations, and both can be avoided with clean planning.
Frequently asked questions
Is a solar system worth it even without storage?
Yes, in many cases. Storage increases self-consumption but costs extra. Whether it improves the calculation depends on the consumption profile and tariffs – the assessment: Is battery storage worth it?
Is PV on an east-west roof worth it?
Often, yes. Total production is slightly below an ideal south-facing roof, but the power is spread better over the day – good for self-consumption.
What happens if electricity prices fall?
Falling grid prices lengthen the payback, rising ones shorten it. The system is long-term protection against price fluctuations – anyone who produces is less dependent on the market.
How long does a solar system last?
Modules are designed for 25 to 30 years or more; manufacturers give long performance warranties. The inverter is typically replaced once in the system's lifetime. Details: Degradation and Inverter lifespan.
Can I have the economics calculated in advance?
Yes – that can be done reliably with your real consumption data, your roof and your utility's tariffs. That's exactly part of our free initial consultation.
Free initial consultation
Does it pay off for you? We'll do the maths.
With your consumption data, your roof and your municipality's tariffs – free, without obligation and without sugar-coating.
Want to calculate yourself first? Solar calculator with official roof data →
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Swissolar-certified specialist company · ESTI installation authorisation (Art. 14 NIV) · in Zurich since 2017 · over 150 systems completed · a personal answer from the specialist company, no call centre
Sources: Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE, SwissEnergy, Swissolar, ElCom (electricity price overview).
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
