Last verified: 2026-05-03 · Sources: BFE, Pronovo, Electrosuisse NIN 2020, Swissolar
Live data — Switzerland
updated 09 May 2026 UTC| Supplier | Tariff | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EinmalvergütungEIV / KEVregulator | Cantonal feed-in (varies) | variable | Set by canton. National range 6-15 Rp/kWh as of 2025. Most cantons use day/night split. |
| City | Annual yield (kWh/kWp) | Monthly profile | Optimal | Payback | Saved/year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lausanne | 899 | 1,287 | 2.3 y | CHF 98.00 | |
| Genève | 884 | 1,275 | 2.4 y | CHF 96.00 | |
| Bern | 883 | 1,244 | 2.4 y | CHF 96.00 | |
| Basel | 824 | 1,171 | 2.6 y | CHF 89.00 | |
| Zürich | 801 | 1,153 | 2.6 y | CHF 87.00 |
Tariff data: Eurostat (quarterly). Export tariffs: hand-curated; weekly scraper rolling out shortly. Payback assumes typical 3-person urban household; scenario-tune in our payback calculator.
Heads-up: Switzerland is the European outlier
Switzerland is not in the EU and has not adopted the NC RfG 800 W harmonisation. The Swiss inverter cap for plug-in PV remains 600 W AC, the VAT (Mehrwertsteuer / TVA) is 8.1% with no 0% relief on solar, and the building-permit framework is cantonal rather than federal. A balcony kit you buy for the German or Dutch market may need to be firmware-throttled to 600 W to be compliant in Switzerland.
TL;DR
- Inverter cap: 600 W AC continuous. Switzerland follows Electrosuisse NIN 2020 / TR 2.65 conventions and has not adopted the EU NC RfG 800 W harmonisation.
- Authorisation: required from the local Werk (utility) and the cantonal building-permit authority (Bauamt). Some cantons treat ≤ 600 W plug-in PV as bewilligungsfrei (permit-free); others require a meldepflichtig (notification-only) form.
- VAT: 8.1% standard rate (raised from 7.7% on 1 January 2024). No 0% relief on solar — a kit listing at 1,000 CHF includes 81 CHF VAT.
- Federal rebate: Einmalvergütung (EIV) via Pronovo — one-time grant of CHF 200-500 for residential PV systems below 30 kWp, applied for after commissioning. Eligibility for plug-in < 600 W systems varies by canton; some require a registered Elektroinstallateur sign-off.
- Feed-in tariffs: set by each utility; typical range 8-15 Rp/kWh. National average around 11 Rp/kWh in 2025. The KEV federal feed-in tariff is closed to new applicants since 2022.
- Tenant rights: No federal right-to-install for balcony PV equivalent to Germany's BGB § 554. Cantonal Mietrecht and the OR (Obligationenrecht) Art. 257-273 govern alterations — landlord written consent is required for any external attachment, and refusal grounds are not narrowly construed.
Why 600 W and not 800 W
When the EU rolled out the NC RfG 800 W harmonisation in 2024, Switzerland — as a non-member — was free to follow or not. The Bundesamt für Energie (BFE) and the Eidgenössisches Starkstrominspektorat (ESTI) both flagged that an automatic 800 W adoption would require coordinated revisions to NIN 2020 (the Swiss electrical installation code) and the cantonal building-permit frameworks. As of mid-2025 there is no federal initiative to align with the EU; consultation papers from BFE mention 800 W as "a possible future harmonisation point" with no legislative timeline.
Practical effect: an EU-market kit with a Hoymiles HMS-800W-2T or Enphase IQ8 can be firmware-throttled to 600 W. Most retailers selling into the Swiss market (e.g. Solarmarkt.ch, Helion) do this automatically. Buying a kit configured at 800 W and using it in Switzerland makes the system non-compliant; a future insurance claim could be denied on that basis.
Cantonal patchwork — what to actually check
Federal energy law sets the framework, but the building-permit process is cantonal. The 26 cantons split roughly into three groups for plug-in PV:
Group A — explicitly bewilligungsfrei (permit-free)
Zürich, Bern, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Aargau, Solothurn, Luzern, Zug. Plug-in PV ≤ 600 W on a private balcony is treated as a removable appliance, no Bauamt application needed. You still need to notify your local utility (Werk).
Group B — meldepflichtig (notification-only)
Vaud, Genève, Neuchâtel, Fribourg, Jura, Valais, Tessin, Schaffhausen, St. Gallen, Thurgau, Glarus, Schwyz. A short notification form to the cantonal Bauamt is required, but it's not a permit — typically 4-week silent approval window. Different forms in each canton; check the Bauamt website.
Group C — Baubewilligung required (formal permit)
Graubünden, Uri, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Mostly small mountain cantons that retain stricter alteration rules. Permit fee CHF 100-300, processing 4-8 weeks. Heritage-protected buildings (denkmalgeschützt) anywhere in Switzerland require a permit regardless of canton — and refusal on aesthetic grounds is much more common.
For all three groups: notification to your local utility (Werk — e.g. ewz Zürich, BKW Bern, IWB Basel) is always required, regardless of building-permit status. Use the utility's online portal or paper PDF; processing is typically 2-4 weeks.
Pronovo Einmalvergütung — federal one-time investment grant
Switzerland replaced the original KEV (Kostendeckende Einspeisevergütung, cost-covering feed-in tariff) with a one-time investment grant called the Einmalvergütung (EIV) in 2018. The federal scheme is operated by Pronovo AG, a subsidiary of Swissgrid.
For plug-in residential PV ≤ 30 kWp:
- Base grant: CHF 200 + CHF 350/kWp installed (2025-2026 rates).
- Cap at 30 kWp; far above any balcony scenario.
- For a 600 Wp system: CHF 200 + 0.6 × 350 = CHF 410.
- Application via pronovo.ch within 12 months of commissioning.
- Required attachments: invoice, utility commissioning certificate, photo of the installation, and (in some cantons) Elektroinstallateur sign-off.
The Elektroinstallateur sign-off is the one practical hurdle — for plug-in < 600 W systems some cantons accept self-installation, others require certified-electrician documentation. Verify with your canton before applying.
Feed-in rates by utility
Each utility sets its own feed-in tariff. Typical 2025-2026 rates for residential balcony PV exports:
| Utility | Region | Rate (Rp/kWh) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ewz | Zürich | ~12.5 | ewz-Grünstrom-Tarif, customers only |
| BKW | Bern + parts of Westschweiz | ~9.5 | BKW-Solarstrom-Tarif |
| IWB | Basel-Stadt | ~14 | IWB Solarstrom Plus |
| EWB | Bern City | ~11 | Energie Wasser Bern |
| SIG | Genève | ~13 | Sig-Reprise |
| Romande Énergie | Vaud | ~10 | — |
| AEW | Aargau | ~10.5 | — |
| National average | — | ~11 | BFE Marktbeobachtung |
Smaller cantonal utilities (Stadtwerke Winterthur, Repower, EBL, Centralschweizerische Kraftwerke) range 8-12 Rp/kWh. The exported volume from a 600 W kit is small — at 11 Rp/kWh average and ~150-250 kWh/year of exports, that's CHF 16-27/year. Self-consumption is the bigger lever.
Renters and condominiums (Stockwerkeigentum)
Swiss tenant law is significantly less renewable-friendly than the German or Austrian frameworks. The OR (Obligationenrecht) Art. 257f governs "Pflicht zur Sorgfalt" — tenants must respect the building's appearance, and external alterations require landlord consent. There is no positive right-to-install balcony PV; refusal on aesthetic grounds remains legally defensible in 2026.
Practical tactics:
- Non-invasive only. A clamp-on bracket that doesn't penetrate the railing or facade is much easier to negotiate than a wall-mounted system.
- Get the email. Document landlord consent in writing including an end-of-tenancy removal clause.
- Stockwerkeigentum (condominium): the Stockwerkeigentümer- gemeinschaft (STWEG) is governed by ZGB Art. 712 et seq. For installations on common parts (rooftop, common facades), assembly approval is needed; for installations on the unit's private balcony, a non-invasive mount is typically not subject to STWEG approval. When in doubt, request the Reglement (house rules) before drilling.
Top kits available in Switzerland
Swiss-market retail is mostly imports + local installer assembly:
- Solarmarkt.ch — biggest pure-play retailer; their 600 W kits land at CHF 700-1,200 with German-language documentation.
- Helion Solar — turnkey installer with Swiss warranty and firmware-set 600 W limit by default.
- BAUMAX / Migros do it + garden — seasonal balcony kits at CHF 599-899.
- EcoFlow PowerStream via ch.ecoflow.com — note: must be firmware-set to 600 W for Swiss compliance.
- Anker SOLIX Solarbank 2 via Anker Switzerland; 600 W variant available.
FAQ
Why is the Swiss cap 600 W and not 800 W?
Switzerland is not in the EU and not bound by the 2024 NC RfG harmonisation. The Bundesamt für Energie has flagged 800 W as "a possible future point" but no legislative timeline exists. Until that changes, your inverter must be firmware-set to 600 W to be compliant.
Can I use an EU-market 800 W kit?
Only if you firmware-throttle the inverter to 600 W. Most retailers selling into the Swiss market do this automatically. Running a non-throttled 800 W kit risks insurance claim denial and potential utility disconnection if discovered.
Will I qualify for Pronovo Einmalvergütung?
For a residential 600 Wp installation, yes — typically CHF 410 (CHF 200 base + CHF 210 for 0.6 kWp). The catch is the Elektroinstallateur sign-off requirement, which varies by canton.
Is 11 Rp/kWh export rate worth pursuing?
For a 600 W kit exporting ~200 kWh/year, the gross is ~CHF 22/year. Most owners accept the export as "donated" rather than navigate utility paperwork. The bigger lever is self-consumption optimisation.
Sources and further reading
- Bundesamt für Energie (BFE) — federal energy authority
- Pronovo — Einmalvergütung application portal
- Electrosuisse — NIN 2020 standard
- Swissolar — Swiss solar industry association
- Obligationenrecht (OR) — current text including Art. 257f tenant rules
A note on accuracy
This guide aggregates publicly available regulatory information for English- speaking residents of, or movers to, Switzerland. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. For binding interpretations contact BFE, your canton's Bauamt, your local utility, or a qualified Anwalt.