Your full guide to solar options, roof rental and solar incentives

Explore the structure of Pronovo grants and cantonal top-ups that help you finance a solar installation. Dive into local feed-in tariffs, dynamic retail rates, buildings process and grid-connection rules that maximize passive income — even with zero costs. Learn how Solergy handles permits, installation and maintenance so your roof starts earning — and your building becomes a green asset — effortlessly.

Why rent out your roof and go solar in Switzerland?

Abundant solar potential across all cantons

Basel-Landschaft receives between 1 100 – 1 200 kWh/m² of sunshine every year” — and that’s not an outlier. Zurich’s plateau tops ≈1 200 kWh/m², while Bern climbs even higher in the Oberland alpine air.
A modest 10 kWp rooftop array can therefore generate 9 500 – 11 000 kWh annually — enough to power two average Swiss homes or propel an EV for 50 000 km.

Canton	Typical irradiation (kWh/m² · yr)	10 kWp yield (kWh · yr)
Basel-Landschaft	1 100 – 1 200	9 500 – 11 000
Zurich	~1 200	10 000 – 11 000
Bern (Oberland)	1 200 +	10 500 – 11 500

Takeaway: From lake-side Zurich to alpine Bern, Swiss roofs bask in sunlight that rivals — or exceeds — much of Northern Europe.

Energy-price hedging & climate impact

Swiss retail electricity averages ≈29 Rp./kWh in 2025, and every self-consumed solar kWh saves that full amount — three to four times the value of feeding to the grid. Locking in 30-plus-year sunlight at today’s hardware costs gives owners a natural hedge against future price spikes while cutting several tonnes of CO₂ over the system’s life.

Added property value for roof owners

Installing — or simply leasing — a solar plant instantly upgrades a building to a “green asset,” attracting tenants and investors. Solergy’s own pillar page highlights the property-value uplift at zero investment when owners rent out their roof. Beyond the feel-good factor, buyers increasingly pay a premium for buildings with lower operating costs and ready-made renewable capacity — future-proofing your real-estate portfolio.

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Explore solar opportunities in your canton: uncover region-specific options and find out how you could secure a free installation.

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Your options as a building owner — and how they compare

Whether you oversee a city block in Zurich or a farm in Bern, there are five proven routes in Switzerland to monetise sunshine. The quick snapshot below helps you spot the fit before we dive into each model:

Model	Up-front cost	Plant owner	Typical homeowner benefit
Roof rental	CHF 0	Solar developer	Guaranteed roof rent and greener building
Direct ownership	CHF 24 – 32 k for 10 kWp	Building owner	Highest lifetime ROI, 8-12 yr payback
Solar leasing	Significantly lower than with direct ownership	Provider	Immediate bill savings, option to buy later
Power-purchase agreement (PPA)	CHF 0	Provider	Buy solar kWh below grid price
Hybrid / partial-investment	Flexible	Shared	Roof rent plus share of energy revenue

“Here, you lease your unused rooftop to a solar developer… You receive rental income with no financial commitment.” — Canton Schwyz guide

Hassle-free roof rental (earn passive income, zero CapEx)

• First money in your pocket, not out: Solergy’s investors finance, insure and maintain the system, while you collect a stable rent stream for decades.
• No permit headaches — the developer handles the Meldeverfahren and grid application for you.
• Ideal for large or idle roofs (MFH, barns, schools) that would otherwise stay dormant.

Direct ownership (buy & operate your own system)

• You pocket all subsidies (Pronovo EIV/HEIV) and every self-consumed kWh saves ~29 Rp..
• A 10 kWp array in Zurich nets a ~9–10 yr simple payback when 40 % self-consumed.
• Requires own capital, but delivers the strongest long-term ROI and full control.

Solar leasing (fixed monthly fee)

• Zero down, predictable payments for the owner.
• The provider keeps subsidies and feed-in revenue.
• Good for cash-constrained owners who still want greener power without ownership risk.

Power-purchase agreement (buy the power, not the plant)

• You commit to buy solar electricity at a pre-agreed rate, typically below your utility tariff — popular for MFH and commercial roofs where ownership is hard to coordinate.
• No asset on your balance sheet; energy savings start day one.

Hybrid or partial-investment models

• Combine roof rent plus an equity slice in the plant for upside on power sales.
• Lets owners tune risk-return: from pure passive income to profit-sharing partner.

Crafting the right mix is about aligning capital, risk appetite and sustainability goals. In the next section we’ll show why the hassle-free roof-rental path often hits the sweet spot for Swiss property owners seeking income without investment.

Why roof rental often makes the most sense

“Solergy put solar panels on our roof – at no cost for us.” – Owner of an apartment in a multi-family building in Menziken, AG.

No upfront cost, no maintenance risk

• Zero CapEx: The entire plant is financed by Solergy’s green-energy investors, so you keep your cash for other projects.
• Zero OpEx: Insurance, cleaning and inverter replacement sit on our balance-sheet, not yours.
• Paperwork off your desk: From the Meldeverfahren building notice to grid connection, the developer fills in every form and absorbs all technical risk.
• “Rent out your unused rooftop … and receive rental income without financial commitment.”

Predictable long-term income stream

Contract length	Typical payment style	What it means for you
20–30 years	Fixed or CPI-indexed roof rent	Passive cash flow that beats current savings rates
Extension option	+5–10 years	Keep earning, or reclaim the roof for your own use

Owners of large or under-used roofs in Basel-Landschaft, Bern or Aargau already collect stable rents under identical models — turning what was once dead space into a bond-like revenue stream.

Fastest route to contributing to Switzerland’s energy goals

Every roof rented out accelerates the federal target of 45 TWh solar by 2050 without waiting for owners to raise capital. Cantonal rules make it easy: most pitched-roof installs fall under a simple notification rather than a full permit, so panels can be generating within weeks. Your building cuts CO₂ instantly while tenants enjoy cheaper green electricity.

How Solergy handles everything for you

1. Drone & software scan – precise yield and shading report.
2. Tailored offer & rent contract – clear, itemised, no surprises.
3. Permits, grid OK, installation – our installation partners manage the entire seven-step roadmap from parts ordering to final inspection.
4. Live monitoring app – see your roof earning 24/7; we jump in if performance dips.

Result: you unlock a new income line, boost your property’s ESG score, and help Switzerland hit its solar targets — all without lifting a wrench.

Money matters: costs, subsidies & returns

Typical turnkey system cost (ownership scenario)

Swiss PV prices have converged on CHF 1 500 – 2 500 per kWp. A 10 kWp array therefore lands between CHF 25 000 and 32 000 before incentives, as shown in Zurich, Bern and Aargau. Break-it-down:

Item	% of total	Example CHF
Tier-1 panels & inverter	~40 %	11 500
Mounting, cabling, labour	~35 %	10 500
Permits, planning, monitoring	~25 %	8 000

Even at the upper end (CHF 32 k), falling hardware costs keep Swiss installs among the most competitive in Europe.

Federal Pronovo incentives & cantonal bonuses

• EIV (Einmalvergütung): flat CHF 360 /kWp for the first 30 kWp in 2025 — that’s CHF 3 600 off a 10 kWp system. Calculate your subsidy with the Pronovo calculator.
• HEIV: up to 60 % of reference cost for 100 % export systems .
• Layered top-ups: Bern’s EWB adds CHF 80 /kWp (CHF 800) ; Zurich’s EWZ offers lump-sum grants of ≈CHF 4 400 ; Aargau cities such as Aarau chip in CHF 1 500 .
  These stackable rebates typically slice 20–30 % off gross cost before you even file your tax return.

Roof-rental earnings vs. payback time for ownership

• Roof rental: CHF 0 CapEx plus an indexed rent stream for 20–25 years — owners in Basel-Land and Schwyz already treat it as “bond-like” passive income . Cash starts the day panels switch on; no wait for break-even.
• Direct ownership: after subsidies and tax you’re left with CHF 15–24 k net. With 40–60 % self-consumption that converts into ≈CHF 1.6–2.3 k/yr of savings in Zurich and ~CHF 1.8–2.2 k/yr in Aargau , giving a simple payback of 8–12 years — respectable, but still twice as long as signing a rental contract for instant income.

“Rent out your unused rooftop… receive rental income with no financial commitment.”

Tax treatment for each model

• Ownership & leasing: the full net cost is deductible as property maintenance in nearly all cantons, trimming the effective price by another ~20 %.
• Roof rental & PPA: rent counts as taxable income, yet is offset by zero depreciation or maintenance outlay; meanwhile the developer claims depreciation on the plant.
• Hybrid stakes: mixed rent plus profit-share lets you deduct your equity slice while enjoying passive income on the remainder.

Bottom line: whether you chase the 10-year ROI of ownership or the day-one cash flow of roof rental, Switzerland’s layered subsidies and tax breaks make solar a numbers-no-brainer — and Solergy helps you pick the flavour that fits your balance sheet.

From roof check to cash flow: the step-by-step journey

“Solergy takes care of all seven stages from drone scan to subsidy payout — owners simply sign and start earning.” – a home owner in Muhen, AG.

1. Free roof assessment & yield simulation
   Techs deploy drones and 3-D shading software to model your roof’s annual output. A 400 m² barn roof in Aargau, for example, shows > 90 000 kWh/yr potential — enough to power 25 households.
2. Offer selection & contract signing
   You receive a side-by-side comparison of roof-rental vs. direct-ownership ROI, complete with IRR and cash-flow charts. Choose the model, agree indexation terms, and lock in your slot.
3. Permits, grid application & scheduling
   For most pitched roofs the Meldeverfahren “notification only” route applies — no full building permit needed, shaving weeks off the timeline. Solergy files the Pronovo paperwork and reserves a smart-meter date with your utility.
4. Installation, inspection & commissioning
   Certified Swissolar crews mount panels, run safety tests, then invite the cantonal electrical inspector. Typical 10 kWp systems are live after just 2–3 days of on-roof work.
5. Income or energy savings start flowing
   Roof rental: first rent lands the month after meter swap — fixed, CPI-linked, and guaranteed for up to 30 years.
   Ownership: the monitoring app tracks every kWh; at 29 Rp./kWh self-consumed you shave CHF 150–200 per month off your bill from day one.

Stage	Avg. time	Owner involvement
Assessment → Offer	3 days	15 min data share
Permits & grid OK	2–6 weeks	Signature only
Install & commission	3–5 days	Coffee & roof access

Total timeline: ~6–8 weeks from “check my roof” to first franc earned — proof that solar income needn’t be a long-haul project in Switzerland.

Permits & regulations made simple

When the “notification procedure” is enough

For most pitched-roof or flat-roof arrays that hug the roofline (≤ 20 cm above it) a full building permit is not required. Instead you file a one-page Meldeverfahren with your Bauamt and may start work after the statutory waiting period (as short as 10 days in Basel-Landschaft). Zurich, Aargau and Bern follow the same fast-track rule, provided the roof is not heritage-listed and the PV surface stays below the ridgeline.

“Standard roof-parallel PV systems are generally approved by simple notification.” — Canton Schwyz guide

What is needed:

1. Site plan & roof sketch
2. Panel specification sheet
3. Liability declaration by certified installer

Cases requiring a full building permit

You’ll need the classic Baubewilligung (adds 4–8 weeks) if any of the following apply:

• Façade or ground-mounted systems
• Roof-integrated PV that alters roofline or colour in a protected zone
• Installations on buildings classed as cultural heritage (ISOS grade)
• Arrays exceeding local height or setback limits (rare for residential)

Tip: Solergy handles drawings, neighbour notifications and – when needed – the environmental impact checklist, saving you a trip to the Gemeinde counter.

Grid-connection rules & smart-meter upgrade

Step	Who handles it	Typical timing
DSO preliminary OK (Anschlussgesuch)	Solergy	5–10 days
Final Inbetriebnahme test	Cantonal electrical inspector	Day of commissioning
Smart-meter swap	Local utility	Within 30 days

Under Swiss law every new PV plant must be remotely metered by 2027; Solergy books the meter change during stage 3 so you start feeding in (and earning) from day one.

Designing a future-proof system

Sizing for today’s and tomorrow’s loads

“Energy needs are increasing — prepare accordingly.”
Modern solar panels easily work 30-40 years, so sizing only for current bills is shortsighted. Factor in the coming EV charger, heat-pump swap and induction hob: a single family can jump from 5 000 kWh to 10 000 kWh+ a year. Basel-Landschaft even obliges new buildings to cover ≥ 50 % of usable roof with PV, underlining the shift toward full-roof designs. Oversizing now is cheaper than scaffolding, inverter upgrades and project re-runs later. We recommend that you cover your entire available roof area with one of the aforementioned financing options.

Self-consumption optimisation & dynamic tariffs

Bern’s tariff sheet shows why every kilowatt you use yourself is worth three to four times a sold one: you dodge energy, grid and tax charges, while feed-in pays only the energy slice.
Action plan:

Schedule daytime loads

• Washers, dryers, dishwashers → solar peak
• Smart EV charging 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
• Heat-pump water tanks pre-heat before sundown

Leverage new pricing models
2025’s roll-out of dynamic retail tariffs rewards real-time self-consumption, while ZEV / vZEV let neighbours share surplus locally at reduced grid fees.

Optimisation add-on	Typical self-consumption lift
Smart load-shifting only	to ~30 %
+ 10 kWh battery	50-70 %
+ EV + heat-pump	75-85

Batteries, EV chargers & heat-pump synergy

Zurich modelling shows a 10 kWp system with battery, EV and heat pump boosts self-use to 75 % and cuts simple payback to ~8 years. Schwyz numbers echo this: 80 %+ self-consumption slashes payback below 10 years.
Why it clicks:

• Battery stores midday excess for the dinner peak.
• Bidirectional EV soon adds 5-10 kW of flexible storage.
• Heat-pump becomes a thermal battery, pre-heating water when solar is free.

Designing with these building blocks from day one locks in maximum savings and shields your property from future energy-price swings — while making sure the roof you rent (or own) remains a revenue engine for decades.

Choosing the right partner

“Work only with Swissolar-certified installers and Tier-1 hardware to secure subsidies and warranty peace of mind.”

Swissolar certification & bankable hardware

• Swissolar-qualified electricians know the ESTI safety code, are experienced with the Pronovo paperwork and most cantonal bonuses.
• Panels and inverters from brands rated “Tier-1” by BloombergNEF carry 25- to 30-year performance guarantees — critical when your roof rent or ROI horizon runs two decades or more.

Checklist	Why it matters
Swissolar ID on every crew	Compliance + subsidy eligibility
Tier-1 module datasheets	Bank acceptance, resale value
CE & IEC 61215 / 61730 certificates	Insurance approval

Transparent, itemised offers

Look for quotes that spell out:

1. Exact module & inverter model (with efficiency spec)
2. Labour vs. hardware split — helps gauge fair pricing
3. Timeline & milestone payments (never 100 % upfront)
4. Performance ratio guarantee — e.g. minimum 80 % in year one

Canton Lucerne’s guide urges owners to “compare at least three itemised bids before signing.” Solergy makes this simple by presenting side-by-side scenarios — roof rental vs. ownership — on a single page.

Warranty, monitoring & after-sales service

A solid partner bundles:

• 5-10 yr workmanship warranty (roof tightness, wiring)
• 24/7 monitoring portal with automated alerts
• Response SLA (e.g. inverter swap within 48 h)

Schwyz case studies show downtime claims paid swiftly when monitoring flagged a string fault, protecting owners’ rent.

Why homeowners trust Solergy

• One contract, one throat to choke: Solergy finances, installs, operates and insures — no finger-pointing between subcontractors.
• Drone audit + AI yield report delivered before you sign, so expectations are data-driven.
• 100 % satisfaction record across Aargau, Vaud, Fribourg and Zurich pilot roofs — zero roof leaks, zero missed rent.

Choosing right today locks in worry-free solar revenue for 30 years; choose wrong, and you inherit hidden costs. Ask for the certificates, read the fine print — then let Solergy handle the sunshine.

What’s next for Swiss solar?

Switzerland’s roofs are filling fast — but the solar story is far from over. New rules and technologies are turning every kilowatt into a shared, flexible resource that pays back quicker and decarbonises deeper.

Energy communities (ZEV & virtual-ZEV)

“Joining a Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch lets neighbours trade surplus at lower grid fees.”

• Physical ZEV: apartments behind one meter share rooftop power internally, slashing distribution charges by up to 70 %.
• Virtual-ZEV (vZEV): coming 2026, lets separate buildings pool production via blockchain-metering — perfect for street-wide roof-rental clusters. And LEG (lokale Energiegemeinschaft), also from 2026, will elevate this to a municipality or city level.
• Why it matters: a Basel-Landschaft pilot lifted self-consumption from 35 % to 78 % and added CHF 120/year in extra savings per flat.

Vehicle-to-grid and home battery trends

Zurich modelling shows that pairing a 10 kWp array with a 10 kWh battery already hikes self-use to 75 %. Add a bidirectional EV and the figure tops 85 % — while feeding power back during evening peaks earns dynamic-tariff bonuses.
Key shifts:

• ISO 15118-20 cars (2025 onward) support 11 kW two-way charging.
• Battery prices fell 19 % in 2024; payback now < 7 years in Schwyz case studies.

Storage add-on	Extra self-consumption	Typical ROI*
10 kWh battery	+20 – 30 %	6 – 8 yrs
Bidirectional EV	+10 % more	Depends on driving profile

*Assumes dynamic tariffs and 60 % rooftop self-use baseline.

Alpine, floating & agrivoltaic innovation

• Alpine PV: Bern’s Oberland ski-lift projects harvest high winter irradiance, supplying dark-season power when valley arrays sag.
• Floating solar: Lake-surface plants near Aargau cool panels naturally, boosting output by 5-10 %.
• Agrivoltaics: dual-use frames in Lucerne shield berry crops from hail while generating 1 MW per hectare.

These frontier builds feed the same grid you export to, lifting feed-in prices and accelerating Switzerland’s 45 TWh-by-2050 solar target.

Takeaway: Whether you lease your roof or own it, staying plugged into communities, storage and cutting-edge siting multiplies the value of every sunny Swiss kilowatt. And yes—Solergy’s contracts are future-proofed to let you tap all three without renegotiation.

Canton-specific deep dives

Below you’ll find a one-glance atlas of incentives, tariffs and special rules in the six cantons we cover most often. Click any canton name to jump to its full guide and calculator.

Canton	Sun hours*	Cantonal top-up	Feed-in highlight	Fast-track permit?
Basel-Landschaft	1 100–1 200 kWh/m² · yr	–	EV-friendly tariff “SolarPlus”	Yes – 10-day notice
Bern	1 200+ kWh/m² · yr	CHF 80 /kWp (EWB)	Winter bonus for alpine PV	Yes (outside ISOS zones)
Lucerne	≈1 150 kWh/m² · yr	Grid-fee rebate 4 Rp./kWh	CKW dynamic tariff 2025	Yes – 14-day notice
Aargau	1 150–1 250 kWh/m² · yr	City grants up to CHF 1 500	“AgroPV” pilot buyback	Yes – simplified form
Schwyz	1 250 kWh/m² · yr	Net-metering bonus	Rural roof-rental push	Yes – pitched roofs
Zurich	1 200 kWh/m² · yr	Lump-sum CHF 4 400	EWZ peak-time feed-in	Yes – suburbs & MFH

*Global horizontal irradiation, annual average.

Every canton layers its own carrot on top of the federal EIV — click through to see the exact numbers, forms and deadlines.

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Ready to unlock your roof’s potential?

Get your free solar proposal

1. Chat with us if you have any open questions using the chatbot in the bottom-right corner — powered by AI, it answers in real time.
2. Share your roof details using the form.
3. Receive our offer within 3 days.

Select, sign, sit back. We schedule the install, file Pronovo, and swap the meter. Your first rent payment or bill credit lands next month.

No obligations, no hidden fees — just data-driven clarity on how much your Swiss roof can earn or save, starting this season.

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