Short answer
What you need to know first.
For the grid connection of a PV system in Canton Solothurn, connection request, technical connection conditions, installation notice, meter change, works acceptance and safety certificate must fit together before commissioning. From 30 kVA, Pronovo registration for guarantees of origin is added; the concrete workflow depends on the local grid operator at the connection point.
Important
As of 2026, the key boundary for grid connection in Canton Solothurn is the separation between building-law clearance and technical connection clearance: a 30-day municipal notification does not replace the technical connection request, installation notice, meter change or safety certificate with the grid operator. From 30 kVA, Pronovo registration for guarantees of origin is added as a separate work step.
Decision points
What determines the right path.
The responsible grid operator is the first hard filter: Regio Energie Solothurn explicitly names the technical connection approval, a meter check, possible on-site acceptance and commissioning for a private PV system. In Olten, a.en additionally refers to the WV BE/JU/SO 2025 works regulations and to Elektroform for the technical connection request, installation notice and safety certificate.
The connection request belongs before the construction start, because Primeo lists the connection request first in its nine-step leaflet, followed only then by contract, installation notice, grid connection quote and grid works. If grid works or transformer capacity are needed, Primeo states that implementation can take several months.
The installation notice is not an administrative afterthought: Primeo describes it as the document that shows the technical structure of the photovoltaic system and the specifications for adapting the grid connection. a.en requests that installation notice, technical connection request and safety certificate are submitted electronically via Elektroform.
The meter determines the official production start: Primeo states that during on-site works acceptance the existing electricity meter is replaced if needed and the system may officially produce electricity from that point. Regio Energie Solothurn also checks whether the meter is sufficient or needs replacing.
From 30 kVA, the guarantee-of-origin side becomes mandatory: Pronovo states a registration obligation in the guarantees-of-origin system for systems with a connection capacity of 30 kVA or more and requires complete system information and metering data. This threshold should be clear before the quote, not only after commissioning.
The grid connection does not replace the building-law check: the Solothurn notification form additionally names the fire brigade plan requirement from 30 kWp and asks about grid-operator clarifications regarding line construction projects or transformer stations. Grid, fire safety and notification procedure therefore need to be managed in the same schedule.
Sequence
How the project stays cleanly managed.
- 1
Determine the grid areabefore the quote, identify the distribution grid operator at the connection point, for example Regio Energie Solothurn, a.en in the Olten area, Primeo or BKW. Without this step, the connection request, portal, works regulations and meter requirements cannot be assigned reliably.
- 2
Prepare capacity and grid compatibilitycompile planned inverter capacity, feed-in point, metering concept and any grid works before construction starts. Primeo places the connection request at the beginning of the workflow and states that grid works may take several months.
- 3
Submit the technical connection requestthe solar contractor or electrical installer submits the technical connection request or connection request to the responsible grid operator. With a.en, filing is done through Elektroform; a.en accepts the technical request there and asks for electronic submission of the documents.
- 4
Link installation notice and grid connection quoteafter the connection check, the installation notice follows with the technical structure and grid connection specifications. With Primeo, this leads to a grid connection quote; only after approval of the installation notice and order placement are grid works triggered bindingly.
- 5
Synchronise notification procedure and fire safetyrun the Solothurn 30-day notification or building application in parallel with the grid connection. For systems from 30 kWp, the cantonal form names the fire brigade plan requirement; grid-operator clarifications on line works or transformer stations belong in the same schedule.
- 6
Schedule works acceptance and meter changebefore commissioning, fix the meter, device order and acceptance date. Primeo names on-site works acceptance, possible meter replacement and the safety certificate as the step before official electricity production.
- 7
Complete Pronovo and guarantees of originafter commissioning, submit the incentive and guarantee-of-origin data completely. From 30 kVA connection capacity, Pronovo requires registration in the guarantees-of-origin system with system data and metering data; smaller systems can still be relevant for guarantees of origin depending on the remuneration model.
Checklist
Questions to settle before the quote.
- Before installation, clarify whether the responsible grid operator is Primeo, a.en, Regio Energie Solothurn, BKW or a local DSO
- Submit the technical connection request and installation notice before grid works, meter work or the construction start are fixed
- Plan the meter change, works acceptance and safety certificate as part of commissioning rather than as an afterthought
- Prepare the Pronovo registration obligation from 30 kVA so that metering data and guarantees of origin are not missing later
FAQ
Common questions on this topic.
Sources
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.