The one-off feed-in incentive is the federal investment contribution towards your solar system. For systems up to 30 kWp, the capacity contribution is currently around CHF 360 per kWp for a roof-mounted system – so around CHF 3,600 for a typical 10 kWp system; roof-integrated systems are higher at around CHF 400 per kWp. The application goes through Pronovo and is submitted after commissioning. (As of July 2026)
Note for research and media: questions about the methodology of this page to the ecoEn editorial team.
Key points in brief
- In principle, anyone who commissions a new photovoltaic system from 2 kWp is eligible.
- The rate is set annually; the Pronovo tariff calculator at the time of commissioning applies.
- KLEIV (under 100 kW) is applied for after commissioning – not before.
- In our experience, several months pass between application and payout.
- The EIV can be combined with the tax deduction.
Who is eligible for the one-off feed-in incentive?
Operators of new photovoltaic systems from 2 kWp are eligible – whether a home, apartment building, business or farm makes no difference. What matters is the system category:
| Programme | Service | Typical case |
|---|---|---|
| KLEIV | 2 to under 100 kWp | Single-family home, apartment building, small business |
| GREIV | from 100 kWp | large commercial roofs |
| HEIV | 2 to approx. 150 kWp, without self-consumption | Full export, e.g. barn roof |
As of July 2026. The current provisions of Pronovo apply.
For the classic home, KLEIV is the normal case – this article focuses on it. The distinction in detail: KLEIV or GREIV?
How high is the one-off feed-in incentive currently?
The remuneration consists of a capacity contribution per installed kilowatt. Currently, the following orders of magnitude apply:
- up to 30 kWp: around CHF 360 per kWp
- system share above 30 kWp: around CHF 300 per kWp
In concrete terms: around CHF 2,160 for 6 kWp, around CHF 3,600 for 10 kWp, around CHF 5,400 for 15 kWp.
Guideline values as of July 2026. The rates are adjusted annually; the Pronovo tariff calculator is binding.
Roof-mounted or integrated – the system category changes the rate
A point missing from many overviews: the capacity contribution depends not only on size but also on the system category. The federal government distinguishes whether the modules lie on the roof or are part of the roof – and pays more for the integrated version.
| System category | Capacity contribution up to 30 kWp |
|---|---|
| roof-mounted (on-roof – modules above the existing covering) | around CHF 360 per kWp |
| integrated (roof-integrated – modules replace the roof skin) | around CHF 400 per kWp |
Capacity contributions according to EnFV Annex 2.1, as of August 2026; each plus the base contribution. The worked examples above refer to the roof-mounted version.
For a 10 kWp system, that's a difference of around CHF 400. It doesn't cover the extra cost of a roof-integrated solution, but it reduces it – and it's regularly forgotten when comparing options. The category distinction also applies to the part of the system above 30 kWp; the Pronovo tariff calculator provides the exact rates there.
When the integrated design pays off at all – and when not – is covered in the article Roof-integrated or on-roof; what we build, on the roof-integrated solar page.
Additional contributions exist for special systems – for example for systems with a steep tilt or on car park canopies. We clarify during planning whether your system qualifies; for a normal pitched roof on a single-family home, the standard rate applies.
Measured against typical system costs (see cost guide), the EIV often covers in the order of 15 to 25 percent of the investment – depending on size and design.
How does the application work?
For KLEIV: build first, then apply. The process in detail:
1. Commissioning of the system – together with the grid operator; the commissioning report is the basis. 2. Application in the Pronovo portal – with system data, commissioning date and certified documents. 3. Certification – an accredited auditor or the grid operator confirms the details. 4. Review and decision – Pronovo reviews the dossier and issues the ruling. 5. Payout to the account provided.
As an installation company, we usually submit the application for our customers at the same time – you don't have to worry about anything. If you want to do it yourself, you'll find the click path in the article Pronovo registration step by step.
How long does it take until payout?
Patience is required here: in our experience, several months pass between receipt of the application and payout – longer depending on the volume of applications at Pronovo. The money comes, but not immediately. So plan your financing so that you don't have to count on the EIV at short notice. We collect current empirical values under Pronovo waiting times & deadlines.
The most common pitfalls
- Wrong order with HEIV: anyone deliberately opting for full export must clarify the procedure before implementation – re-categorising afterwards is laborious. And the commitment is long: HEIV obliges you to at least 20 years of full export without self-consumption; anyone who brings the system into a ZEV earlier must repay the remuneration proportionally to Pronovo (Art. 25 para. 3 EnG, Art. 33/34 EnFV). An interesting exception: participation in an LEG remains permitted, because electricity sold there doesn't count as self-consumption – real flexibility for barn roofs and investment roofs.
- Incomplete certification: missing or incorrect system data are the most common reason for queries and delays.
- Extensions: anyone enlarging an existing system only receives the EIV on the extension capacity – with its own rules. This belongs in the planning before modules are ordered.
- Forgetting taxes: the EIV must be taken into account in the tax return; practice differs by canton. Details: Tax deduction for solar systems.
The most common question we get is: "Is the money safe?" The answer: the entitlement exists as soon as the system meets the requirements and the application is submitted properly – the waiting time is a payout problem, not an entitlement problem. What matters is a complete dossier from day one: in our projects, we prepare the documents so that certification goes through without queries. In the end, that saves more time than any enquiry to Pronovo.
Frequently asked questions
When do I have to submit the EIV application?
For systems under 100 kWp (KLEIV), after commissioning. There's a generous deadline – but waiting too long still doesn't pay off, because the rates at the time of commissioning apply and the payout takes time anyway.
Do I also receive the EIV for a system extension?
Yes, for the additionally installed capacity – according to the rules for extensions. The contribution is different from that for a new system; we calculate it specifically as part of the quote.
Is the one-off feed-in incentive taxable?
It must be taken into account in the tax return; it's usually offset against the deductible investment costs. The exact handling is regulated by your canton.
What happens if the rates fall next year?
The rate applicable on your reference date applies. Anyone planning a system should therefore look at price trends and incentive rates together – not just one of the two.
Does a roof-integrated system get a higher one-off incentive than an on-roof system?
Yes. The federal government distinguishes by system category: for systems up to 30 kWp, the capacity contribution is around CHF 360 per kWp for roof-mounted and around CHF 400 per kWp for roof-integrated systems, each plus the base contribution (EnFV Annex 2.1, as of August 2026). For 10 kWp, that's a difference of around CHF 400 – the extra cost of a roof-integrated solution becomes smaller, but isn't offset.
Do I have to go through the installer for the EIV?
No, you can submit the application yourself. In practice, we handle it as standard because certification requires technical system data from the installation anyway.
Free initial consultation
EIV, registrations, paperwork? We'll take care of it.
At ecoEn, the complete administration – utility registration, notification procedure, Pronovo application – is part of the project. You get the system, we take care of the rest.
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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: Pronovo AG, Swiss Federal Office of Energy SFOE.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
