A solar fence consists of vertically mounted bifacial modules that absorb light on both sides – with east-west orientation on one side in the morning, on the other side in the evening. Over the year it delivers less than the same module on a well-oriented roof, but its power is distributed differently: two daily peaks instead of one at midday, and in winter the low sun hits the vertical surface almost at a right angle. For the single-family home it is a supplement, not a substitute for the roof – it becomes interesting where a fence is being built anyway. (As of: September 2026)
Key points in brief
- Vertical bifacial modules harvest on both sides; what matters is what lies behind them and reflects.
- Positioned east-west, the fence delivers two peaks – morning and evening – instead of one midday peak.
- The annual yield per kWp is below that of a well-inclined roof; published empirical values from Germany cite roughly two thirds.
- In winter, the design plays to its strengths: The low sun hits the vertical surface favourably, and snow does not stay on it.
- A fence is a building structure: Height, boundary distance and design are regulated by the municipality; for the solar part, the area limit for free-standing systems also applies.
- Vertical systems also receive the tilt-angle bonus via Pronovo.
How a solar fence works
The technology behind it is not a new type of module but a different way of mounting. Mostly bifacial glass-glass modules are used – modules whose back is translucent and which therefore also generate electricity from behind. On a tiled roof that back sits right above the roof and contributes almost nothing. Vertically in a fence line it stands free, and that is exactly where the second side becomes the real argument. There are also thin bifacial module strips that are attached directly to the fence (example below).
From this follows the typical orientation. A solar fence mostly stands in an east-west direction: In the morning the sun shines on the east side, in the evening on the west side, and at midday it only brushes both surfaces. The result is a daily curve with two humps instead of a midday peak – the antithesis to the classic south-facing system.
Whether the rear side is worthwhile depends on the ground. Light gravel, slabs or a light wall reflect light, a dark lawn or a hedge significantly less. This is the same rule as with elevated flat roof systems and described in detail in the article on bifacial modules; with the fence it only works more strongly because both sides are in play.
Yield: less per year, differently distributed
Two numbers belong side by side, otherwise a false picture emerges.
The first is the annual yield. A well-oriented system in Switzerland delivers around 950 to 1,100 kWh per kWp a year. A vertical surface is below this – published empirical values from Germany cite roughly two thirds of this value for vertical systems. Reliable Swiss series of measurements over several years are not known to us, which is why we understand the number as a classification and not as a forecast for your garden.
The second is the distribution, and here it gets interesting. Whoever has nobody at home at midday feeds their midday peak in at a feed-in tariff that is significantly below the purchase price. An east-west fence, on the other hand, produces when power is really needed in many households: in the morning when getting up, in the evening when cooking and charging. For self-consumption this curve can be worth more than the lower annual figure suggests – exactly how much depends on the consumption profile of the household.
And a third point that counts particularly in Switzerland: the winter. The low winter sun hits a vertical surface almost at a right angle, while it only brushes over a flat roof. Added to this is that no snow remains on a vertical module. Both together make the fence relatively strong in the winter half-year – relatively, because the high fog in the Swiss Plateau also depresses it. Since winter power is the scarce part in the Swiss electricity system, this characteristic is more than a technical footnote.
| Solar fence (vertical, east-west) | Roof system (inclined, south) | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual yield per kWp | lower – empirical values cite roughly two thirds | Guideline value 950–1,100 kWh |
| Daily curve | two peaks: morning and evening | one peak: midday |
| Winter behaviour | favourable angle of incidence, no snow on the module | flat incidence, snow possible |
| Area | needs property edge, no roof area | uses existing roof area |
| Construction and permit | new building structure, municipal fence regulations | mostly notification procedure |
Qualitative classification, as of: September 2026 – the numbers are guideline values, the calculation at the specific location is decisive.
What a solar fence means structurally
A fence is a building structure, and thus the rules that apply to fences apply – not those for roof systems. Height, distance to the boundary, visibility conditions at exits and partly also the design are in the building and zoning regulations of the municipality. These specifications vary municipally, and they are the first call in the project – not the last.
Added to this is the solar part. For free-standing systems, the area limit of 20 m² in the building zone for the notification procedure applies in the Canton of Zurich; above this, a building permit is necessary. Which procedure applies when is systematised in the article Building permit or notification procedure. A fence of 20 metres in length and one metre module height already reaches this limit – the area adds up faster than one thinks, and how it is counted the municipality will tell you bindingly.
Two practical points also belong here. Firstly the glare: Vertical glass surfaces on a street or opposite a neighbouring house are a topic that one checks beforehand and does not discuss retrospectively – the systematics are in the article on glare from solar systems. Secondly the mechanical load: A fence stands where lawnmowers, bicycles and in winter the snow clearer are on the move. Glass-glass modules are robust, but a collision guard at exposed places is not over-caution.
A system for the fence: SUNBOOSTER VERTICAL+
A solar fence does not have to consist of framed glass-glass modules. One of the systems we offer for this application is SUNBOOSTER VERTICAL+: a thin, light module strip that is active on both sides and is threaded into the fence. According to the manufacturer, it is designed for double-bar mesh fences with a wire gauge of 6/5/6 or 8/6/8 and replaces the privacy slats there; no drilling is needed. SUNBOOSTER is one of our partners for this. Our planning remains manufacturer-independent; for the fence design, this is the system we currently offer.
| Manufacturer data | SUNBOOSTER VERTICAL+ |
|---|---|
| Length per strip | 2 m (201.5 cm) or 2.5 m (251.5 cm) |
| Width × thickness | 18.6 cm × 1.8 mm |
| Weight per strip | 1.0 kg (2 m) or 1.2 kg (2.5 m) |
| Output per fence section | 372–384 Wp (2 m) or 468–498 Wp (2.5 m) |
| Cell technology | bifacial: yield on front and back |
| Manufacturer's example calculation | around 19 kWp over 100 m of fence |
Manufacturer data (product flyer and manufacturer website, as of October 2026); the output figures differ slightly depending on the module generation, and the data sheet of the delivered variant is authoritative. Wp = output under standard test conditions; actual yield depends on orientation, ground surface and shading (see above).
For yield, the manufacturer gives a reference value of 815 kWh per kWp, measured at its own installation in Graz (Austria). That is higher than the empirical ratio we cite above. Because it is a manufacturer measurement at a single site and Swiss measurement series are missing, we calculate conservatively for your property and with the conditions on site, not with the reference value.
Funding: system parts with an inclination of at least 75 degrees receive the tilt-angle bonus via Pronovo in addition to the one-off remuneration; for free-standing systems it has been CHF 200 per kW since 1 January 2025. The one-off remuneration requires at least 2 kW of installed capacity, which for this system works out at a little over 10 metres of fence. The amount of the one-off remuneration depends on the commissioning date (Pronovo tariff calculator); the canton and municipality may contribute in addition, which we clarify for each site.
Before a quote, we clarify on site whether your existing double-bar mesh fence matches the wire gauge or whether a new one makes sense, which orientation delivers the morning and evening electricity, where the connection to the house network runs, and what your municipality says about height and boundary distance. The system is registered with the grid operator like any photovoltaic system. Even with this system the order stays the same: roof first, the fence as a complement.
When the fence is worthwhile – and when the roof wins
The sequence is the same as with any additional area: First the roof. As long as there is space there, the existing area delivers every kilowatt-hour cheaper, because no supporting structure has to be built. Only when the roof is full, shaded, protected or unsuitable does the question of additional areas make sense.
But then there are constellations in which the fence looks good. The clearest: The fence is being built anyway. Where a boundary, a visual or noise protection is pending, the module row replaces a component that would otherwise be bought without equivalent value. The second: long boundary lines without a suitable roof – at commercial sites, car parks and in agriculture, where a boundary and fence are drawn anyway and areas along paths and pastures are present. There the solar fence stands in the same family as agri-photovoltaics: dual use of an area that already has a purpose.
What we advise against is the solar fence as a substitute for a free roof. That is the expensive variant of the same kilowatt-hour.
With us, the solar fence has so far primarily been a topic of conversation and rarely a quote – and that is almost always due to the same point. Whoever asks usually still has roof area free, and then the answer is honestly the roof. It gets interesting with the others: Properties where the roof is already full or the house is protected, and businesses that have to draw a boundary anyway. There we calculate the fence line as an area and look at the consumption profile – because the actual advantage is not the annual figure, but when the power comes. With a household that is at home in the morning and evening and charges a car, the east-west curve suddenly looks very reasonable. What we consistently clarify beforehand are the fence regulations of the municipality: They are more local than anything else in the solar world, and in the end they decide on height and length.
Frequently asked questions
What is a solar fence?
A fence line made of vertically mounted bifacial solar modules. Because these modules absorb light on both sides, with east-west orientation they generate power on one side in the morning and on the other side in the evening. The fence thus fulfils two tasks: demarcating and producing.
How much power does a solar fence deliver compared to the roof?
Per kilowatt of installed capacity less than a well-oriented roof; published empirical values for vertical systems cite roughly two thirds of the roof value. Instead, the yield is distributed over morning and evening instead of the midday hours, which can be favourable for self-consumption.
Is a solar fence worthwhile in winter?
In the winter half-year, the design is at an advantage: The low sun hits the vertical surface at a favourable angle, and snow does not stay on a vertical module. The high fog in the Swiss Plateau, however, depresses the yield here too.
Does a solar fence need a permit?
For the fence itself, the municipal regulations on height, boundary distance and design apply – the first clarification therefore runs via the municipality. For the solar part, the area limit for free-standing systems also applies; in the Canton of Zurich, up to 20 m² in the building zone requires the notification procedure, above this a building permit.
Which modules go into a solar fence?
Mostly bifacial glass-glass modules, because they use the back and are mechanically robust. There are also thin bifacial module strips that are attached to the fence. What glass-glass modules offer in general is covered by a separate guide.
Do you offer solar fences?
Yes. We plan and install solar fences and offer, among others, the SUNBOOSTER VERTICAL+ system for this, a bifacial module strip for the fence. We prepare a quote after a site visit; where possible, the roof remains the first choice.
Is there funding for a solar fence?
Yes, if the system reaches at least 2 kW: vertical systems with an inclination of 75 degrees or more receive the tilt-angle bonus via Pronovo in addition to the one-off remuneration, CHF 200 per kW for free-standing systems (as of 2026). The canton and municipality may contribute as well. Pronovo and your municipality are authoritative.
For whom does a solar fence make sense?
Mainly where a boundary is being built anyway or the roof is not available – for example with protected buildings, full roofs, commercial sites and agricultural areas. As a substitute for a free, suitable house roof, it is the more expensive solution.
Free initial consultation
Roof full or unsuitable? We check the alternatives.
Fence, carport, pergola or facade – we calculate the areas through with their real yield and say which one is worthwhile on your property. Consultation from the Zurich region, without sales pressure.
Prefer to talk? +41 78 830 83 35
Photovoltaics Switzerland – installation by a specialist company →
Swissolar member and Solarprofi · ESTI installation authorisation (Art. 14 NIV) · in Zurich since 2017 · over 150 systems completed · a personal answer from the specialist company, no call centre
Further guides
Bifaziale Module
Glas-Glas-Module
Ertrag pro kWp in der Schweiz
Photovoltaik im Winter
Eigenverbrauch optimieren
Baubewilligung oder MeldeverfahrenSources: Published experience and manufacturer values for vertical bifacial systems (yield level compared with inclined roof systems, as of September 2026); yield guideline values for Switzerland (via /ertrag-pro-kwp-schweiz/); Canton of Zurich, information sheets on free-standing solar systems and building procedures (via /solaranlage-baubewilligung-zuerich/); municipal building and zoning regulations; Pronovo, frequently asked questions on the one-off remuneration (tilt-angle bonus, minimum capacity); SUNBOOSTER manufacturer data (product flyer, manufacturer website, as of October 2026); practical experience from the planning and installation work of ecoEn GmbH, Zurich region. (As of: October 2026)
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
