Check the roof, compare quotes, decide, notify, mount, connect, register – that is the whole way. Your active effort is concentrated on the first three steps; from the signature onwards, a good provider largely takes over the work. Total duration typically two to four months.
Key points in brief
- Only steps 1–3 need your active time – a few hours in total.
- The longest waiting point is rarely the installation, but deadlines from the grid operator and scaffolding planning.
- Municipal incentive applications belong BEFORE the start of construction – the only step that cannot be caught up on.
Step 1 — Check roof
Open sonnendach.ch, enter address, read suitability. Plus two questions for yourself: Is a roof renovation due in the next ten years? And what consumers will be added – e-car, heat pump? These answers determine the system size more than any software.
Step 2 — Get quotes
Enquire with two to three regional companies, give everyone the same key data: annual consumption (electricity bill), future plans, battery yes/no/later. After the site visit come the quotes – compare them with the checklist, not with your gut feeling.
Step 3 — Decide and sign
Price per kWp, completeness, components, references – if these four points are right, the decision is ripe. Clarify the payment plan and the rough timeframe before signing. From here, the work changes sides.
Step 4 — Authorisation & registrations
The company submits the notification procedure to the municipality and the connection request to the grid operator. Your only mandatory point: If your municipality pays an incentive contribution, the application must be submitted now – before the start of construction (why this is so important). In core zones or for protected properties it takes longer (details Canton of Zurich).
Step 5 — Installation
Scaffolding, substructure, modules, then the electrical work in the house. You do not need to be present; access to the meter box and technical room is sufficient. Little reality check: depending on the season, several weeks pass between the signature and the scaffolding erection – material and teams are scheduled, that is normal.
Step 6 — Connection & acceptance
The grid operator changes the metering or releases the system, the independent inspection checks the installation, then the system goes onto the grid. The handover includes: system documentation, introduction to the monitoring and the warranty documents.
Step 7 — Incentives & taxes
The one-off feed-in incentive application to Pronovo is submitted after commissioning – with us a standard part of the project scope. You yourself just put the invoices for the tax deduction in the tax folder. Done.
The schedule at a glance
| Step | Who | Duration (typical) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Check roof | You | 10 minutes |
| 2 Quotes | You + companies | 1–3 weeks |
| 3 Decision | You | 1 evening |
| 4 Registrations | Operation | 2–6 weeks (parallel to planning) |
| 5 Installation | Operation | 2–4 working days |
| 6 Connection & acceptance | Company + utility | 1–4 weeks |
| 7 EIV & taxes | Company/You | Application after commissioning; payout takes months |
| Total: Signature → System is running | typically 2–4 months |
Guideline values, As of: July 2026 – depending on season, municipality and grid operator.
Where projects in the region actually lose time is rarely the technology: it is the interfaces – a connection request waiting for a query, a scaffolding appointment that has to be coordinated with the roofer, a core zone clarification. That is why a company that knows these ways and actively follows up on deadlines is worth more than any week of price negotiation.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do I have to invest myself?
Realistically a few hours: roof check, two to three consultation appointments, quote comparison, decision. Everything else is the task of the right provider.
Can I build in winter?
Yes – installation is possible all year round, as long as the roof can be safely walked on. Waiting times are often shorter in the winter half-year; the system is then ready when the high-yield months begin.
What can blow the schedule?
The three classics: core zone/protected property (building application instead of notification), renovation needs on the roof that only become visible on the scaffolding, and queries from the grid operator regarding special connection situations.
When does the one-off feed-in incentive flow?
The application goes to Pronovo after commissioning; experience shows it takes several months until payout. Schedule it in, do not factor it in – details: Pronovo waiting times.
Free initial consultation
Step 2 begins with a call.
Site visit, transparent quote, complete administration – we accompany all 7 steps.
Want to calculate yourself first? Solar calculator with official roof data →
Prefer to talk? +41 78 830 83 35
Photovoltaic installer for your region →
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, Pronovo AG, VSE/grid operator processes.
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
