The path to your own solar system runs through six stages: check the roof's suitability, obtain and compare quotes, decide on components and size, handle the permit/notification, have it installed, register it and commission it. From signing the contract to a running system, it typically takes two to four months. (As of: July 2026)
Key points in brief
- You're not buying a product, you're buying a project: planning, installation and administration determine the result at least as much as the modules do.
- Two to three comparable quotes are enough – more just confuses, fewer takes away your benchmark.
- The size of the system should follow the roof and the future (heat pump, EV), not just today's consumption.
- Incentives and administration (Pronovo, utility, municipality) should be included in the offer.
- The cheapest price is rarely the best offer – compare line items, not bottom-line totals.
Step 1: Is your roof suitable?
The first check costs nothing: sonnendach.ch shows the suitability of roof areas for practically every Swiss building. Good to know: even «medium» suitability is usually entirely sufficient – the differences between a perfect south-facing roof and an east-west roof are smaller than the colour scale suggests.
Three other points matter more than orientation: shading (trees, neighbouring buildings, chimneys), roof condition (is a renovation due in the next ten years?), and space eaters such as skylights and dormers. No website can clarify these three questions – that takes a look at the roof itself.
Step 2: Get quotes – but the right way
Get two to three quotes from companies that install themselves or demonstrably take responsibility for the installation. Give everyone the same key data: annual consumption (on your electricity bill), planned purchases (heat pump? EV?), whether you want a battery – yes/no/later.
Quotes only become comparable once you look at the line items: are scaffolding, electrical work, meter adjustment and all registrations included? Are makes and models stated? The full checklist with the typical tricks of disreputable providers: Comparing solar quotes and Red flags in quotes.
How to recognise a good regional company – references, labels, reachability after installation – is covered in the article Find a solar company in Zurich.
Step 3: Decide on size and components
Size. Our basic rule: use up the well-suited roof area as far as the budget allows. The fixed costs are paid, every extra kWp is cheap – and electricity demand almost always grows with a heat pump and an EV. The cost logic behind this is shown in the cost guide.
Modules. For the vast majority of roofs, a solid standard module from an established manufacturer is the right choice. Premium is worthwhile for special cases: limited space (highest output per m²), visible roofs (all-black look), particular warranty needs. The market overview from an installer's perspective: The best solar modules.
The inverter. More is decided here than with the module: quality, monitoring, expandability (battery!), warranty handling. Anyone even considering a battery should choose a hybrid inverter. The comparison: Inverters compared.
Battery yes/no. Doesn't have to be decided on day one – building battery-ready is enough. The calculation: Solar system with battery.
Step 4: Permit, notification, incentives
For most systems on pitched roofs, the notification procedure with the municipality is sufficient; a building application is mainly needed in heritage and protected zones (details for the Canton of Zurich). In parallel, the connection request to the utility runs.
For incentives, the golden rule of order applies: apply for municipal programmes before construction starts, the one-off feed-in incentive after commissioning (the overview). A reputable provider handles this administration entirely – ask explicitly about it.
Step 5: The installation
The installation itself typically takes two to four working days for a single-family home: scaffolding, substructure and modules on the roof, then the electrical work inside the house. Add lead time (ordering materials, scheduling scaffolding) and follow-up (acceptance by the utility, independent inspection). Realistically, from signing the contract to commissioning: two to four months – depending on the season and the utility.
You notice a clean process in the small things: appointments kept as announced, a tidy site, documented electrical work, a walkthrough of the monitoring at handover.
Step 6: Commissioning – and after
The real benefit begins with commissioning. Three things belong in the first few weeks: setting up and understanding the monitoring (how it's done), submitting the EIV application (or having it submitted) (one-off feed-in incentive), and filing the documents for the tax deduction (tax deduction).
After that, the system is pleasantly unspectacular: no wearing part spins, and maintenance is manageable (the operating guide).
The five most common mistakes when buying
1. Looking only at the bottom-line total – and discovering the missing line items on the final invoice. 2. Planning too small – expanding in three years costs scaffolding and electricians all over again. 3. A provider with no regional references – if nobody picks up the phone after installation, every warranty claim becomes a slog. 4. Applying for municipal incentives too late – in many municipalities, the contribution is gone once construction has started. 5. Ignoring roof renovation – a 20-year-old roof under a new system is an expensive time bomb. Check first, then commit: Roof renovation & PV.
What strikes us again and again in consultations: most clients have researched module brands intensively beforehand – and hardly at all the question of who picks up the phone in year five if the inverter reports a fault. Yet the latter determines satisfaction far more. Modules today are good across the board; planning quality, installation quality and reachability are not everywhere.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from the quote to a finished system?
Typically two to four months – depending on the season, material availability and the grid operator's deadlines. The actual roof installation on a single-family home takes just a few working days.
Do I need a building permit?
On most pitched roofs, the notification procedure is sufficient. Building applications are mainly needed in heritage zones, for protected buildings and sometimes for flat-roof or façade systems – the rules are set by the canton or municipality.
Should I wait for prices to fall?
Module prices have already fallen sharply; labour costs are not falling. Waiting mainly postpones your own returns – and carries the risk of changing incentive rates in either direction.
Can I install the system myself?
The electrical work absolutely belongs in professional hands, and with roof work without fall protection, the fun stops. Some companies structure in self-performed work – discuss it openly rather than improvising.
What all belongs in a complete quote?
Modules and inverter with model designation, substructure, scaffolding, electrical work including the meter position, all registrations (utility, municipality, Pronovo), acceptance/inspection, dates and warranties. If any of this is missing, ask – before signing.
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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: EnergieSchweiz, Swissolar, Pronovo AG, cantonal building authorities.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
