Canton comparison
Photovoltaics by canton: subsidies, permits & feed-in tariffs compared
In Switzerland, cantonal subsidies, the permitting path, the feed-in tariff and solar potential are spread across 26 cantons, countless municipalities and the respective grid operators. This overview places the starting point per canton side by side – as a starting point before detailed planning. Each row links to the canton page with the details.
As of: 2026-06-28 · Without guarantee – the official bodies are decisive.
| Canton | Solar potential | Feed-in tariff | Grid operator | Cantonal subsidy | Permit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aargau | 1160 kWh/m²~1'678h | 8.2 Rp./kWh (AEW) | AEW Energie AG | Aargau grants no general cantonal PV top-up per kWp for standard roof systems. | Notification via EVEN portal. |
| Appenzell Ausserrhoden | 1070 kWh/m²~1'700h | 6.2 Rp./kWh (RL MIN) + 1.5 Rp./kWh HKN (SAK) | SAK | Cantonal top-up of +50% on the Pronovo one-time payment (since September 2025). | 2023 new guideline: solar on traditional Appenzell buildings without townscape impact. |
| Appenzell Innerrhoden | 1060 kWh/m²~1'700h | ab 6 Rp./kWh (EWA) | EWA | Focus on consulting subsidies for thermal and electrical solar systems. | Same challenge as AR: Appenzell building tradition requires sensitive integration. |
| Basel-Landschaft | 1150 kWh/m²~2'000h | ab 6.0 Rp./kWh garantiert (EBL, 0–30 kW) / 6.2 Rp./kWh ab 30 kW; zzgl. vierteljährlicher BFE-Referenz-Marktpreis und HKN separat (max. ~3 Rp./kWh) | EBL | Energy package until 2030: CHF 51.25 million subsidy fund. | Normal notification procedure. |
| Basel-Stadt | 1150 kWh/m²~1'631h | BFE-Referenzmarktpreis (quartalsweise) + gesetzliche Mindestvergütung 6 Rp./kWh bis 150 kW; HKN separat (IWB) | IWB | Cantonal subsidies: CHF 100/m² for roof renovation, CHF 140/m² for facade renovation. | Basel Solar Offensive 2037: All buildings with >100m² roof area must install solar by 2037. |
| Bern | 1150 kWh/m²~1'500-1'800h | 10.96 Rp./kWh Minimum (EWB, <100 kW, inkl. HKN) / BKW: vierteljährlicher BFE-Referenzmarktpreis, garantierte Mindestvergütung 6 Rp./kWh bis 30 kW (Formel 180/kWp) | BKW, EWB | Bern has no cantonal PV top-up. | Roof-mounted systems in Bern require notification but no permit (if sufficiently adapted). |
| Freiburg | 1130 kWh/m²~1'841h | min. 6 Rp./kWh garantiert (BFE-Referenzmarktpreis, Q1 2026 ca. 10.27 Rp./kWh) + HKN-Bonus, max. ca. 10.96 Rp./kWh (Groupe E); evuName: "Groupe E" (BKW in Grenzgebieten) | Groupe E, BKW | No general cantonal PV top-up; the Pronovo one-time payment and the full tax deduction are decisive. | Normal notification procedure. |
| Genf | 1100 kWh/m²~1'900h | 10.96 Rp./kWh fix (SIG, bis 100 kWc, 2026) | SIG (Services Industriels de Genève) | Geneva is shaped by Services Industriels de Genève (SIG). | Roof-mounted systems on standard buildings in Geneva require notification but no permit – the construction notice (avis d'ouverture de chantier) must… |
| Glarus | 1050 kWh/m²~1'300h | ab 6 Rp./kWh garantiert (TBGN) | TBGN | CHF 250/kW winter PV bonus supports facade strategy. | Normal notification procedure. |
| Graubünden | 1250 kWh/m²Hoch (alpin 2'000m+) | ab 6 Rp./kWh + HKN-Bonus (Repower) | Repower | CHF 600/kWp facade subsidy (doubled in Green Deal). | Solarexpress: accelerated permit procedure for large systems since 2022. |
| Jura | 1030 kWh/m²~1'700h | Referenzmarktpreis BFE (quartalsweise) + gesetzliche Mindestvergütung 6 Rp./kWh bis 30 kW + HKN (BKW; lokal Services industriels de Delémont SID) | BKW, Services industriels de Delémont (SID) | The Canton of Jura runs its own cantonal PV funding programme 'Soutien aux petites installations photovoltaïques' for systems of 2 to 30 kW (approx. | Roof-mounted systems on standard buildings in Jura require notification but no permit. |
| Luzern | 1100 kWh/m²~1'500-1'600h | Referenzmarktpreis BFE (quartalsweise) + Mindestvergütung 6 Rp./kWh bis 30 kW + 2 Rp./kWh HKN (CKW, 2026) | CKW | No cantonal PV top-up. | Roof-mounted systems in Lucerne are generally subject to notification but permit-free. |
| Neuenburg | 1050 kWh/m²~1'700h | ca. 9-12 Rp./kWh (Viteos, Groupe E) | Viteos, Groupe E, ENSA | Neuchâtel runs the «Programme d'encouragement pour l'énergie» with contributions to energy renovations. | Roof-mounted systems on standard buildings in Neuchâtel require notification but no building permit. |
| Nidwalden | 1080 kWh/m²~1'400-1'600h | marktbasiert (CKW) | CKW | In 2026 Nidwalden has no cantonal PV top-up and no cantonal battery-storage contribution. | Standard notification procedure for normal roof systems. |
| Obwalden | 1080 kWh/m²~1'400-1'600h | marktbasiert (CKW) | CKW | Winter electricity champion: CHF 1,000 flat bonus + CHF 750/kW installed capacity, max CHF 8,000. | Standard notification procedure for normal roof systems. |
| Schaffhausen | 1130 kWh/m²~1'600-1'800h | Referenzmarktpreis BFE (quartalsweise) + Mindestvergütung 6 Rp./kWh bis 30 kW + HKN (je nach Netzbetreiber: EKS kantonsweit, SH POWER in der Stadt) | EKS (kantonsweit) / SH POWER (Stadt Schaffhausen) | The decisive support is the Pronovo one-time payment (KLEIV 2–100 kW / GREIV from 100 kW) plus full tax deduction as property maintenance. | Heritage guideline active: guide "Solar systems aesthetically designed" defines clear rules. |
| Schwyz | 1100 kWh/m²~1'400-1'600h | ~7 Rp./kWh Energie (BFE-Marktpreis, quartalsweise) + 2.5 Rp./kWh HKN (EWS) | EWS AG | Schwyz offers no cantonal solar subsidy. | Solar obligation since May 2022 for replacement new buildings. |
| Solothurn | 1150 kWh/m²~1'500h | 9.0 Rp./kWh Winter, 4.0-6.20 Rp./kWh Sommer (je nach Anlagengroesse/Eigenverbrauch) + HKN 4.0 Rp./kWh (bis 30 kVA) / 1.0 Rp./kWh (ueber 30 kVA) (Regio Energie Solothurn 2026) | Regio-Energie Solothurn | No general cantonal PV subsidy: through the Building Programme, Solothurn only funds the building envelope, heat pumps, wood heating and thermal solar… | 30-day notification before construction. |
| St. Gallen | 1100 kWh/m²~1'748h | ab 6 Rp./kWh (SAK) | SAK, sgsw | No general cantonal subsidy — subsidies via Pronovo (federal) and municipal programs. | Heritage guidelines revised 2024: easier solar access also in historic districts. |
| Tessin | 1200 kWh/m²~2'100h | AET FER-CU 9.0 Rp./kWh (Q1 2026) + gesetzliche Mindestvergütung Rmin FER 4.0 Rp./kWh (<30 kW) | AET, AIL Lugano, AEC Bellinzona | Ticino funds PV via the Fondo Energie Rinnovabili (FER): in addition to the Pronovo one-time payment, a cantonal top-up of 50% of the federal one-time… | Standard roof-mounted systems in Ticino only require notification. |
| Thurgau | 1120 kWh/m²~1'200-1'400h | Marktpreis BFE (quartalsweise) + 6 Rp./kWh Min. bis 30 kW + 2 Rp. HKN (Thurplus, ab 2026) | Thurplus | Facade-exclusive from April 2025: CHF 200/kWp subsidy ONLY for facade systems pitched ≥75° (max CHF 10,000 per system, annual budget CHF 100,000). | Interactive solar map: for every building the map shows whether notification or building permit is needed (Green = notification, Orange = permit, Red… |
| Uri | 1100 kWh/m²~1'300-1'500h | Referenzmarktpreis BFE (quartalsweise) + gesetzliche Mindestvergütung als Energievergütung + HKN 1.0/0.5 Rp./kWh Winter/Sommer (energieUri, ab 1.1.2026) | energieUri | Uri Energy Funding Programme 2026 (budget ~CHF 2.1m): winter-electricity PV bonus CHF 1,000 flat + CHF 250/kW for steeply tilted systems (60–90 degree… | Uri enables flexible solutions for alpine buildings. |
| Waadt | 1100 kWh/m²~1'900h | Referenzmarktpreis BFE (quartalsweise, Q1 2026 ca. 10.26 Rp./kWh Energie + 1.5 Rp./kWh HKN) plus gesetzliche Mindestvergütung 6 Rp./kWh für Anlagen bis 30 kW (Romande Energie, SIL Lausanne, Sinergy) | Romande Energie, SIL Lausanne, Sinergy Vevey | The Canton of Vaud launched the «100 millions pour le climat» programme for 2023–2027. | Roof-mounted systems on standard buildings in Vaud only require notification (Annonce de travaux). |
| Wallis | 1400 kWh/m²~2'000h | Referenzmarktpreis BFE (Q1 2026 ca. 10.27 Rp./kWh), Mindestvergütung 6 Rp./kWh bis 30 kW, zzgl. ca. 1.5 Rp./kWh HKN (EW Obergoms / EnBAG, quartalsweise angepasst) | EnBAG, EW Obergoms | Solar obligation for new buildings: under federal Art. | Solar obligation: federal law (Art. |
| Zug | 1120 kWh/m²~1'900-2'000h | Referenzmarktpreis BFE (quartalsweise) + gesetzliche Mindestvergütung bis 30 kW + HKN-Bonus (WWZ) | WWZ | Solar obligation since 1.1.2023: All replacement new buildings min. | Solar obligation for replacement new buildings (min. |
| Zürich | 1150 kWh/m²~1'900h | 9.0 Rp./kWh Minimum (EKZ) / 12.91 Rp./kWh (EWZ) / 14 Rp./kWh LEG | EWZ, EKZ | Zurich has no general cantonal PV top-up – investment support runs Switzerland-wide via the Pronovo one-time payment. | Since January 1, 2023, most solar systems in Canton Zurich only require notification (30 days before construction) — no building permit. |
Feed-in tariffs depend on the local grid operator and from 2026 in many places follow the federal reference market price. Subsidy columns show the cantonal starting point – check municipal programmes and deadlines via the official bodies.
Frequently asked questions
Does every canton have a cantonal PV subsidy?
No. The Switzerland-wide baseline is always the federal Pronovo one-time payment. An additional cantonal top-up or a battery-storage contribution exists only in some cantons, and the conditions differ. The "cantonal subsidy" column shows the starting point per canton; the relevant cantonal energy office is decisive.
Do I need a building permit or is a notification enough?
In most cantons, sufficiently integrated roof systems outside protected zones only require a notification (Art. 18a RPG, Art. 32a RPV). Exceptions apply for heritage protection and core/townscape protection zones. The "permit" column summarises the cantonal starting point; the host municipality is binding.
How current is the information?
As of 2026-06-28. Subsidy amounts, deadlines and feed-in tariffs change regularly – from 2026 feed-in tariffs in many places follow the federal reference market price. This overview is for orientation; the official bodies are binding (see "Official sources").
How high is the feed-in tariff in my canton?
The feed-in tariff depends on the local grid operator, not on the canton alone. The "feed-in tariff" column gives typical values of the relevant grid operator(s); the tariff valid for your exact address is shown by the respective grid operator or pvtarif.ch.
Official sources
The official bodies are always binding. Check subsidy amounts, deadlines and tariffs for your specific property at the current status.
What applies specifically to your roof?
The cantonal starting point is only the beginning. Subsidies, permitting and economics only become reliable for your specific property – let us assess your project.