From April 2025 Switzerland’s government is offering higher bonuses to encourage property owners to harness the sun’s clean energy.
From April 1st, 2025, the government, which has been long committed to expanding the use of renewable energies, is making it more economical (that is, cheaper) for all property owners who haven’t already done so to put up photovoltaic panels on the roofs of their houses.
These are the ‘subsidies’ you can expect if you install solar panels:
The bonus for installations with a tilt angle of at least 75 degrees will increase significantly: it will rise from 250 to 400 francs per kilowatt (kW) of installed power for integrated installations, and from 100 to 200 francs for additional or isolated installations.
This measure aims to encourage the construction of photovoltaic installations on facades capable of producing “a significant amount of electricity” in winter, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE).
The compensation rate has also been modified to allow the construction of large-scale installations integrated into rooftops. Those with a total power exceeding 100 kW will benefit from the integrated installation fee rate for power outputs below 100 kW (330francs/kW) and 250 francs/kW for installed power outputs above this value.
Finally, the power-related contribution of the single fee will decrease by 20 francs for installations with a power output below 30 kW and for additional and isolated installations from 100 kW — two fast-growing market segments.
No reduction is planned for the power class between 30 and 100 kW, which is experiencing less growth.
These measures are intended to encourage the construction of larger installations and to use as much as possible the entire roof surface for electricity generation.
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Who is in charge of bonus distribution?
That would be your canton.
Each one has an environmental protection office which will inform you of all the legal requirements, what subsidies you could be entitled to, and how to apply.
For instance, this is the office to contact if you live in Zurich, Geneva, Vaud, and Basel-City.
What is the Swiss law on solar panels?
In June 2024, nearly 69 percent of Swiss voters have approved a new electricity legislation to speed up the development of renewable energy.
It states that new buildings with a construction surface area of more than 300 square metres must have solar installations on their roofs or facades.
Cantons can, if they want to, mandate photovoltaic panels on smaller houses as well.
