In addition to the federal one-off incentive and cantonal contributions, individual Zurich municipalities support solar systems and storage with their own, mostly budgeted programmes – the amounts and conditions vary widely. This overview compares eight municipalities side by side, with a source and reference date for each row. Two of the eight municipalities currently have no programme of their own. (As of September 2026)
Key points in brief
- Municipal incentives are a voluntary, additional offer from individual municipalities – they don't replace the federal one-off incentive (EIV) or cantonal contributions.
- The range is wide: from no programme at all to base contributions of several thousand francs plus a percentage surcharge.
- Almost all programmes are budgeted and can pause once the funds are exhausted.
- The Küsnacht incentive (roof-integrated 50/MWh, facade 40/MWh) was independently confirmed externally in this session.
How do the municipalities in the Canton of Zurich differ?
| Municipality | Solar system incentive | Storage incentive | Distinctive feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Küsnacht | Roof-integrated CHF 50/MWh·year over 15 yrs (≈ CHF 675/kWp); facade CHF 40 (≈ CHF 540/kWp); on-roof: none | lithium-free storage CHF 200–300/kWh | Framework credit CHF 2 million; max. CHF 40,000; externally confirmed |
| Meilen | CHF 150/kWp (first 20 kWp) | CHF 200/kWh (2–10 kWh) | New builds/≤5 kWp excluded; cap CHF 25,000 |
| Stäfa | +50% of the federal EIV | none | max. CHF 10,000; annual budget CHF 200,000 |
| Uetikon am See | CHF 300/kWp (first 10 kWp) | none | only for a pitch ≥75°; max. CHF 3,000 |
| Kloten | Base contribution CHF 4,400 + 100% of the federal EIV | — | most generous programme in the sample |
| Wallisellen | CHF 500/kWp for a pitch ≥75° | — | max. CHF 10,000 / 40% |
| Zollikon | no programme of its own | no programme of its own | federal/cantonal incentives only |
| Dübendorf | no programme of its own | no programme of its own | federal/cantonal incentives only |
As of September 2026. Sources per municipality: municipal incentive regulations plus energiefranken.ch. Only the current publication of the respective municipality is binding. Budgeted programmes can pause temporarily once the funds are exhausted.
What stands out in the comparison?
Two patterns stand out. First: the incentive amount doesn't obviously correlate with the size or wealth of the municipality. Second: the incentive logic differs fundamentally — some municipalities support per kWp of installed capacity, others as a percentage surcharge on the federal EIV, and others not at all. In addition, cantonwide: the Canton of Zurich supports CHF 20 per m² of module area, but only in combination with subsidised roof or wall insulation on buildings with a building permit from before the year 2000.
In consultations, we regularly see clients assume there's a municipal incentive because the neighbouring municipality has one – and are then surprised that their own municipality runs no programme (as is currently the case for Zollikon and Dübendorf).
Frequently asked questions
Does the municipal incentive apply on top of the federal one-off incentive?
Yes, this is usually a voluntary, additional benefit from the municipality. It replaces neither the federal one-off incentive nor any cantonal contributions.
Why do Zollikon and Dübendorf have no incentive programme of their own?
Each municipality decides this independently via its municipal budget and energy regulations. There's no cantonal obligation to run an incentive programme of its own.
How current are these figures?
Every row carries the reference date September 2026. Since almost all programmes are budgeted, a quick check on the current municipal website is also recommended before applying.
Will this table be expanded to more municipalities?
Yes, that's planned. Every newly added municipality is checked against the same two sources.
Which incentive applies to your municipality?
We check for you which federal, cantonal and municipal incentives can be combined for your project.
Sources: municipal incentive regulations of the municipalities named, energiefranken.ch.
Last updated: 18 September 2026 · Contact for questions on methodology: ecoEn editorial team
