Since 1 August 2026, the City of Zurich has been paying contributions towards stationary battery storage for the first time: a CHF 1,000 base contribution plus CHF 100 per kilowatt-hour of storage capacity – and an additional CHF 100 per kWh if the storage consists of reused cells (second-life). It's subsidised for new and existing PV systems. Two things to know: the application must be submitted before construction starts, and at most 1.5 kWh of storage per installed kWp of the system is eligible. (As of August 2026)
Key points in brief
- Base contribution CHF 1,000 plus CHF 100 per kWh, for storage from 3 kWh of capacity.
- Second-life bonus: an additional CHF 100 per kWh for storage made from reused battery cells.
- Upper limits: at most 1.5 kWh per kWp of the connected system, and at most 100 kWh per storage unit, are eligible.
- Retrofits count: the incentive explicitly applies to both existing and new PV systems.
- Application mandatory before construction starts – anyone who installs first loses their entitlement.
What does the City of Zurich pay since 1 August?
The City Council approved the storage incentive in June 2026 (STRB No. 1853/2026); applications can be submitted since 1 August 2026. The contributions at a glance:
| Contribution | Rate |
|---|---|
| Base contribution per storage system | CHF 1,000.– |
| Capacity contribution | CHF 100 per kWh |
| Second-life bonus (reused battery cells) | an additional CHF 100 per kWh |
Guideline figures according to the City of Zurich's incentive provisions in force since 1 August 2026 (Art. 20a–20d AB VGL), as of August 2026. The current provisions and the incentive body's confirmation apply.
For the calculation, the entire installed capacity doesn't automatically count: at most 1.5 kWh per installed kWp of the connected generation system, and at most 100 kWh per storage system, are eligible. A larger storage system may be built – the part above that simply isn't subsidised.
Two worked examples make it tangible: a 10 kWh storage unit on a 10 kWp system is clearly within the limit and gets CHF 2,000 (1,000 + 10 × 100). A 20 kWh storage unit on the same system hits the 1.5 kWh-per-kWp limit: 15 kWh is eligible, the contribution is CHF 2,500 – the remaining 5 kWh gets nothing from the incentive. So anyone planning storage size should factor in this limit right from sizing; how you determine the right storage size is unaffected by this – consumption leads, not the incentive.
What conditions apply?
The incentive provisions require, cumulatively:
- Minimum capacity of 3 kWh, stationary and permanently installed;
- operation together with a renewable generation system (in practice: the PV system) behind the same service connection box;
- at least six years of operation from commissioning;
- integration into a grid-friendly energy management system;
- no lead-acid batteries; mobile storage, vehicle batteries, thermal storage and off-grid systems are excluded;
- for the second-life bonus: proof of the reused cells, for example via a manufacturer's confirmation.
The EMS condition is more than a formality: «grid-friendly» means the storage shouldn't just optimise stubbornly for self-consumption, but should be able to integrate with the grid. Anyone already planning energy management – for example for self-consumption optimisation – usually meets this requirement in the same step; the choice of system in the project clarifies the details.
Does this also apply to existing PV systems?
Yes – and in our view, that's the most important point of the whole change. In its notice, the city explicitly names battery storage «for existing as well as new PV systems». That means the programme targets exactly the group for whom the calculation shifted most in 2026: system owners who export their surplus at a low feed-in tariff and buy the electricity back expensively in the evening. What needs to be considered technically when retrofitting storage doesn't change because of the incentive – but the contribution noticeably shifts the economics towards yes. The sober overall assessment: Is battery storage worth it?
The second-life bonus is also interesting: the city doesn't just subsidise storage made from reused cells too, it subsidises it more than new material – a deliberate signal for the circular economy, and a rarity nationwide. What second-life storage is good for and what to watch out for, we've assessed separately: Second-life battery storage.
How do you submit the application?
The route runs via the incentive platform (portal.energie-foerderung.ch); ewz is the incentive body. The order is decisive:
1. Enter the application in the portal, sign and submit the form – mandatorily before construction starts. If work has already begun, the entitlement lapses; this rule allows no leniency. 2. Wait for the receipt confirmation or approval, only then order and install. Important: the mere receipt confirmation is not yet a commitment – the written approval is decisive. 3. After commissioning, submit the completion documents in the portal; the payout follows after that. The incentive decision is valid for two years – enough buffer for clean project planning.
The application is signed by the owner; third parties need a power of attorney. On ecoEn projects in the city, we handle the application and deadline monitoring as standard – the same process we know from the city's PV incentive applications.
That a storage incentive should arrive in 2026 of all years is no coincidence – it's the year the feed-in tariff went through the floor and many system owners are, for the first time, recalculating what their surplus electricity still earns. The city's contribution doesn't answer the question alone: storage has to fit the system, the consumption profile and the tariff area, otherwise even the incentive won't help. But it shifts the threshold – and, for the first time, it rewards those who give a used battery a second life. We think both of those are right.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the contribution for a typical 10 kWh home battery?
CHF 2,000 – the base contribution of CHF 1,000 plus CHF 100 per kWh. If the storage consists of reused cells, a further CHF 1,000 second-life bonus is added. Provided the connected PV system has at least around 7 kWp (1.5 kWh-per-kWp limit).
Does the incentive also apply if my PV system has already been running for a while?
Yes. The incentive explicitly applies to both existing and new PV systems – the storage must operate together with the system behind the same service connection box. You submit the application before installation.
What does the 1.5 kWh per kWp limit mean?
At most 1.5 times your system's output as storage capacity is eligible: for 6 kWp, that's 9 kWh; for 10 kWp, 15 kWh. You may install a larger storage system – the excess part simply isn't taken into account when calculating the contribution.
What is the second-life bonus?
An additional contribution of CHF 100 per kWh for storage made from reused battery cells – on top of the regular capacity contribution. Proof is provided, for example, by a manufacturer's confirmation.
Does the application really have to be submitted before installation?
Yes, mandatorily before construction starts – otherwise the entitlement lapses. Good to know: a building application doesn't yet count as the start of construction; what matters is the start of installation, i.e. the inverter installation. After submitting, wait for the written approval before ordering – the mere receipt confirmation isn't enough.
Is there a similar incentive outside the City of Zurich?
Not across the board – the Zurich programme is a municipal first in the region. Individual municipalities and cantons run their own programmes with different rules; the overview: Battery storage incentives Switzerland; the postcode check runs via energiefranken.ch.
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Sources: City of Zurich (press release June 2026; STRB No. 1853/2026 amending the AB VGL, Art. 20a–20d, entry into force 1 August 2026), ewz (incentive contributions, application process).
Last updated: 9 July 2026 · Author: ecoEn editorial team
