The advantages of a solar system are tangible – lower electricity costs over decades, a degree of independence from the electricity price, incentives and the tax deduction, and the best foundation for a heat pump and an EV. The disadvantages are just as real: the investment comes upfront, in winter the roof delivers only a fraction, without self-consumption a lot of money is left on the table, and the roof is committed for decades. Knowing both leads to a better decision – and for most Swiss single-family homes, clearly in favour of the system. (As of: September 2026)
Key points in brief
- The most important advantage isn't feed-in, it's the electricity you consume yourself: every kilowatt-hour from the roof replaces a more expensive one from the grid.
- The most important disadvantage is the winter gap: from November to February the system covers only a small part of demand – no battery changes that.
- Lower feed-in tariffs don't make the system unprofitable, they shift the benefit toward self-consumption – batteries, heat pumps and EVs become more important.
- Much of what counts as a disadvantage is overstated: fire risk, embodied energy and maintenance are all measurably small.
- There are genuine reasons to hold off: heavy shading, an upcoming roof renovation with no budget, unresolved structural questions, or a missing resolution in condominium ownership.
The advantages that really matter
Lower electricity costs – over 25 years and beyond. As a guideline, a system in Switzerland delivers 950–1,100 kWh per kWp per year. What you consume yourself, you no longer have to buy; typical self-consumption is 25–35 percent without a battery, 60–80 percent with a battery and smart control. The rest goes into the grid as feed-in and is remunerated. How this translates into francs: What does a solar system cost?
A degree of independence from the electricity price. Your own electricity has a fixed price – the investment, spread over its lifetime. If grid tariffs rise, the advantage grows; if they fall, it shrinks, but doesn't disappear.
Incentives and the tax deduction. The federal government pays the one-off feed-in incentive (around CHF 360 per kWp for a single-family home), many municipalities add a bit more, and the investment on an existing building is deductible from taxable income in the Canton of Zurich. Details: One-off feed-in incentive and Tax deduction.
The foundation for a heat pump and an EV. Anyone who heats and charges uses several times as much electricity – and that's exactly when solar power from the roof pays off most, because self-consumption rises and replaces expensive grid energy. A system without these consumers is good; with them, it becomes really good.
Long lifespan, little moving. Modules have no moving parts, age slowly and are sold with performance warranties spanning decades. What maintenance actually involves: Maintenance and monitoring.
The disadvantages you have to name
The investment comes first. Turnkey, a system for a typical single-family home costs, as a guideline, CHF 2,100–2,700 per kWp. The money is committed before the first franc is saved; payback is only honestly stated as a range of years, not a date. Anyone financing it should factor in the interest.
The winter gap. Short days, low sun, snow: from November to February a roof delivers only a small share of its annual yield – exactly when a heat pump and lighting need the most. A battery shifts electricity from midday to evening, not from summer to winter. Grid electricity remains part of the system.
Without self-consumption, money is left on the table. Feed-in tariffs have fallen in many places since the 2022 electricity price spike; anyone feeding in most of their electricity earns little from it. The return is generated in the house – through consumption at the right time, smart control and, where it makes sense, a properly sized battery (battery size).
The roof is committed. A system stays in place for decades. If a roof renovation is due in the coming years, it belongs before the system – or both are planned together. Taking modules down, renovating and reinstalling them afterwards costs unnecessary money.
One wearing part over the lifecycle. The inverter doesn't last as long as the modules and is typically replaced once during the system's lifetime. That's plannable, but it belongs in the full cost calculation.
Bureaucracy – manageable, but there. Grid connection application, the municipality's notification procedure, the one-off feed-in incentive with Pronovo: a good specialist company takes this off your hands; it doesn't work entirely without paperwork.
What often counts as a disadvantage – and is overstated
«Solar systems catch fire.» When systems catch fire, installation errors are almost always the cause, not the technology – and cases are rare. Properly installed systems with a safety certificate are not a particular risk: Fire risk with solar systems.
«Manufacturing consumes more energy than the system delivers.» A module's embodied energy is paid back within a few years of operation – against a lifespan of decades: Embodied energy of solar modules.
«It's not worth it any more.» Lower feed-in tariffs change the calculation but don't tip it: self-consumption was always the core, and it grows larger with a heat pump and an EV. The honest assessment: Is a solar system worth it in Switzerland?
«The system needs constant care.» Rain cleans it, monitoring watches it; in practice, that means a glance at monthly yield and rarely a service visit.
When a solar system doesn't (yet) make sense
Honest stays honest – there are situations where we advise against it, or advise waiting:
- Heavy, permanent shading from neighbouring buildings or tall trees that can't be removed (Assessing shading). East-west or north-facing roofs, on the other hand, are not a reason to rule it out.
- A roof renovation due in the coming years with no budget for it – then plan the renovation and the system together instead of bringing the system forward.
- Unresolved structural questions or asbestos in the roof covering – check first, then decide.
- Condominium ownership without a resolution – the community of owners has to agree; how that works: Solar system in condominium ownership.
- New construction – here the question is usually no longer open: the Canton of Zurich has a self-generation requirement (Solar obligation).
What doesn't appear on any of these lists: consumption that's «too small». Even modest households benefit as long as the roof is suitable – only very small systems become noticeably more expensive per kWp.
Pros and cons at a glance
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|
| Lower electricity costs over decades | Investment before the first franc is saved |
| Fixed electricity price for self-consumption | Winter gap – grid electricity remains necessary |
| One-off feed-in incentive, municipal contributions, tax deduction | Feed-in alone brings little |
| Ideal foundation for a heat pump and an EV | Roof committed for decades – renovation first |
| Almost no maintenance, long warranties | Inverter replaced once |
| Meets solar obligation requirements for new construction | Registrations and applications |
Whether the left or the right column weighs more heavily for your roof is shown in two minutes by the solar calculator, using your address's official roof data.
The most common disappointment we see has nothing to do with the technology: a system was sold on the basis of feed-in – «you earn money with every kilowatt-hour» – and after the first winter, the client looks at a statement smaller than promised. Conversely, we almost never hear complaints from clients who planned self-consumption from the start – hot water at midday, EV in the afternoon, a battery for the evening. The difference isn't in the system, but in the expectation it was bought with.
Frequently asked questions
What are the biggest disadvantages of a solar system?
The upfront investment, the winter gap, and the dependence on self-consumption: anyone who mainly feeds their electricity in earns little at today's feed-in tariffs. On top of that, there's a committed roof and an inverter that gets replaced once during the lifecycle.
Is a solar system worth it despite lower feed-in tariffs?
For most single-family homes, yes – because the benefit arises from self-consumption, not feed-in. With a heat pump, EV or battery, the share of self-used electricity rises significantly, and that's exactly where the return lies.
Are solar systems a fire risk?
Not to any particular degree if properly installed with a safety certificate. Where systems do catch fire, installation errors are almost always the cause – an argument for a licensed specialist company, not against the technology.
What does the system deliver in winter?
Only a small part of the annual yield; short days and low sun limit production. A battery helps in the evening, not in January – grid electricity remains part of the system.
Do I have to take care of the system?
Hardly at all: rain cleans the modules, the monitoring shows the yield. A glance once a month is enough; service visits are the exception, not the rule.
Does a solar system make ecological sense despite the energy needed to manufacture it?
Yes. A module's embodied energy is paid back within a few years of operation, and the system then keeps running for decades.
Free initial consultation
Does a solar system fit your roof – or is it better to wait?
We'll tell you honestly, using your address's official roof data and with no sales pressure. Free of charge and without obligation.
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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: Swissolar, «Statistik Sonnenenergie 2025» (2025 decline following lower feed-in remuneration); EnergieSchweiz; guideline values from ecoEn's guides on costs, yield and self-consumption (as of: September 2026).
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
