Support for private investors in solar plant

The cost-covering feed-in tariffs (see below) partly replace Swiss cantonal support programs. List of cantonal and of the communal support programs for solar power 2009. (PDF in german)

Tax benefits

When installing a solar plant on an existing building, the investment costs are tax deductible in almost all cantons. (PDF in german)

 

Cost-covering remuneration for solar power (CRF)

The cost-covering remuneration for power from renewable energy (CRF) came into force on January 1st. 2009. It is financed by a surcharge of maximum of 0.6 ct. on every kilowatt-hour of electricity sold, thus providing 320 million Swiss Francs every year.

 

In the case of photovoltaics, the legislator defined a complicated cap mechanism, in which  initially 5% of the annual 320 million Swiss Francs, i.e. 16 million Swiss Francs, was made available. This continues as long as PV-production costs are 50 ct. or more above the average power production price of around 8 ct. As photovoltaic prices sink, this 5% can be raised step-by-step up to 10/20/30% of the total amount of 320 million Swiss Francs.

 

Since 1.2.2009, all new applications for power generation plant using hydro-power (up to 10 megawatts), photovoltaics, wind energy, geothermal energy, biomass as well as waste from biomass have been set on a waiting list by Swissgrid as the entire funding available were already exhausted.  More than 12000 photovoltaic installations with 440 MW of power are already on the waiting list (november 2011). On 11.6.2010 the Swiss Parliament passed a change in law, with which the surcharge can be raised to a maximum of 0.9 ct/kWh. This will allow to reduce the waiting list as from 2011.

• Feed-in tariffs more
• Information of the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, complete text of the decree. more
• BiPV: Official list of photovoltaic modules and fastening systems corresponding to the category "building integrated photovoltaic plant" for the Swiss CRF scheme. more