What happens if I start construction before the confirmation?

Art. 28 BEG is unambiguous: if an applicant begins implementing the project or makes purchases before the contribution is confirmed, no contributions are granted unless an early construction start has been approved. Such an approval expressly confers no entitlement to funding. Applications must therefore be filed in good time before construction begins.

Are the cantonal contributions taxable?

These public funds are subsidies (state contributions) that are not taxable under the Swiss VAT Act (MWSTG; SR 641.20). They may, however, lead to reductions in the recipient's input tax deduction. For direct taxes, subsidies received reduce the self-borne costs, which must be taken into account when assessing the deductibility of property expenses.

GuideFundingGraubünden

PV funding Graubünden: CHF 300/kWp for winter power

Q: Why is my elevated system on a pitched roof not eligible?

The winter-power contribution requires that the module support structures are mounted on or against a building or infrastructure and have no independent foundation. Ground-mounted systems and elevated installations on pitched roofs are explicitly excluded in the guideline issued by the Office for Energy and Transport. The replacement of an existing system is also not eligible.

Canton Graubünden funds photovoltaics through two separate programmes that cannot be combined. The older one targets winter power: under Art. 23a of the cantonal energy act (BEG), the canton supports systems on buildings and infrastructure that deliver particularly high output in the winter half-year thanks to their design and positioning. The contribution is CHF 300 per kilowatt-peak, with a minimum of CHF 900 and a maximum of CHF 200,000. The conditions are narrow: a tilt between 60 and 90 degrees, orientation between east, south and west (90°–180°–270°), a minimum system size of 3 kWp and a location with global radiation above 1250 kWh/m² per year according to the cantonal potential map. Ground-mounted systems and elevated installations on pitched roofs are explicitly excluded, as is the replacement of an existing system. Since 31 December 2025, Art. 23b BEG has added a second programme for using the area potential on buildings with predominantly residential use. There the contribution is CHF 150 per kilowatt-peak, with a minimum of CHF 450 and a maximum of CHF 50,000. Eligible systems are those whose installed capacity exceeds the reference demand of 20 watts per square metre of energy reference area by at least 50 percent and at the same time by at least 3 kWp. The same hard timing rule applies to both programmes: under Art. 28 BEG, no contributions are granted if implementation begins or purchases are made before the contribution has been confirmed.

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Contents

Short answer At a glance Decision points Sequence Checklist FAQ Sources

Short answer

Can I combine the winter-power contribution with the area-potential contribution?

Guidance for owners in Graubünden who want to know before requesting a quote which of the two cantonal PV funding programmes their roof qualifies for, and in which order application, confirmation and construction start must happen.

Important

Confirmed contributions are maximum amounts per application. If the completed system deviates from the project submission underlying the funding decision, contributions may be reduced, cancelled or reclaimed under Art. 29 BEG. The confirmation is valid for three years from the date of the decision and can be extended by at most two years on written request. This page provides technical orientation and replaces neither advice from the Office for Energy and Transport nor tax advice.

At a glance

Key figures: PV funding Graubünden

Key figures for PV funding Graubünden, updated 02 August 2026
Metric	Value
Winter power (Art. 23a BEG)	CHF 300/kWp, min. CHF 900, max. CHF 200,000
Area potential (Art. 23b BEG)	CHF 150/kWp, min. CHF 450, max. CHF 50,000
Tilt for winter power	60° to 90°, orientation E–S–W (90°–180°–270°)
Minimum system size	3 kWp
Site requirement	Global radiation > 1250 kWh/m² per year
Application	Before construction, online at energie.gr.ch plus paper form
Validity of confirmation	3 years, extendable by max. 2 years

Decision points

What determines the right path.

Tilt and orientation determine the programme: the winter-power contribution requires a 60 to 90 degree tilt and east–south–west orientation, while the area-potential programme allows northeast to northwest (45°–180°–315°).

For the area-potential programme the energy reference area is decisive: the reference demand is 20 W/m², only capacity above 30 Wp/m² of energy reference area is funded, and only for predominantly residential use under building categories I and II of SIA standard 380/1.

Site quality must be documented: both programmes require global radiation above 1250 kWh/m² per year according to the cantonal potential map.

Shading rules out the winter-power contribution: the minimum distance of the panels from the ground is 0.5 per mille of the site altitude, and the panel may not be shaded more than 10 percent in January and February, based on 20 years of MeteoSwiss data.

The two cantonal contributions cannot be combined, and together with other public or national contributions they may not exceed 50 percent of the project expenditure under Art. 27 BEG.

Sequence

How the project stays cleanly managed.

1
Record roof, tilt, orientation and site altitude, and use the cantonal potential map to check whether global radiation exceeds 1250 kWh/m² per year.
2
Decide which programme applieswinter power under Art. 23a BEG for steep facade or roof designs, area potential under Art. 23b BEG for residential buildings with a clearly oversized system.
3
File the application online on the energie.gr.ch platform, then submit the duly signed application form on paper to the Office for Energy and Transport; only then is the application considered filed.
4
Wait for the contribution confirmation and only then begin implementation or purchases, unless an early construction start has been approved.
5
After completing the work, record the implementation on energie.gr.ch and submit the signed final form; payment follows once all documents have been reviewed.

Checklist

Questions to settle before the quote.

Check the 60° to 90° tilt and east–south–west orientation required for the winter-power contribution
Calculate the 20 W/m² reference demand and the 50 percent threshold for the area-potential programme
Verify global radiation above 1250 kWh/m² per year using the cantonal potential map
File the application before construction starts and respect the 50 percent cap alongside Pronovo funding

FAQ

Official sources & references.

The responsible authorities are decisive. Always verify binding details – amounts, deadlines and conditions – for your specific property against the current status of the respective authority.

Continue

Relevant pages for the next step.

For Graubünden, you'll find matching services, regional projects and related guides that take you forward in practical terms.

Matching region Guide hub

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Solar Installation Graubünden – Planning to Commissioning

In Canton Graubünden, alpine PV systems deliver up to 50% of annual production in winter – strategically decisive for Swiss supply security. The federal government subsidises large alpine systems with up to 60% of investment costs (for winter yield ≥500 kWh/kW/year). Repower coordinates grid connection and permits regionally. Projects like Nalpsolar (10 MW) and the Axpo expansion in Ilanz (30–50 MW) demonstrate scalability.

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Pronovo one-time payment for PV in Canton Bern

How high the Pronovo one-time payment for a PV system in Canton Bern is, how it splits into a base and a capacity payment, when to file the application, and how federal funding, the absence of cantonal PV funding and the tax deduction relate to each other.

Regional service

PV Installation Graubünden – Roof & Electrical

Graubünden is the canton with Switzerland's greatest alpine solar potential. Thanks to altitude and cold, PV systems here deliver 30–50% higher yields than in the midlands. Repower compensates from 6 Rp./kWh + HKN bonus. The Muttsee dam wall (2,500 m) with 5,000 panels delivers 3.3 million kWh/year – with three times higher winter production than comparable lowland systems. Alpine installation requires specialised mounting structures for extreme wind and snow loads.