Press Review

PV Magazine 18 January 2023

Since January 2023, a so-called high one-off remuneration for photovoltaic systems (HEIV) has supplemented the two existing support models in Switzerland at a federal level. A total of 600 million Swiss francs is available this year for the promotion of photovoltaics.

In January, Switzerland introduced the high one-time incentive (HEIV) in addition to the two existing support models – the one-time incentive for small photovoltaic systems (KLEIV) and the one-time incentive for large photovoltaic systems (GREIV), both of which amount to a maximum of 30 percent of the investment costs of reference systems. According to the Swiss industry association Swissolar, this HEIV reimburses up to 60 percent of the investment costs of reference plants that are relevant at the time of commissioning. To qualify, the plants must fulfill several conditions: They must have a capacity of at least 2 and less than 150 kilowatts, the entire solar electricity must be fed into the grid, the system must be operated for 15 years without self-consumption, and it must not have been commissioned before 1 January 2023. From a system capacity of 150 kilowatts, the HEIV is awarded by auction.

Swissolar has published an overview of the one-off payments planned from 2023 on its homepage. According to this, an amount of 450 Swiss francs per installed kilowatt of capacity is envisaged for the high one-off payment in 2023. For solar installations on roofs and free-standing solar installations, Swissolar puts the basic contribution per installation between 2 and 5 kilowatts at 200 Swiss francs, plus a performance contribution per kilowatt of 270, 300, or 400 Swiss francs, depending on the size of the installation. For in-roof solar systems, the basic contribution per system between 2 and 5 kilowatts is also 200 Swiss francs, plus the performance contribution per kilowatt, which is 330 or 440 Swiss francs depending on the system size. In certain cases, according to Swissolar, an angle of inclination bonus of 100 or 250 Swiss francs per kilowatt can also be claimed for all systems.

If a HEIV subsidy has been granted for the construction of a new photovoltaic system or the significant expansion of an existing one, Swissolar adds, a high one-off subsidy can be applied for at the earliest one year after the commissioning of this system for another solar system without self-consumption on the same property.

Switzerland will make 600 million Swiss francs available for the promotion of photovoltaics in 2023. This is intended to accelerate the expansion without waiting lists for subsidies.