Guide · Switzerland
How much electricity does a solar PV system produce in winter?
How much electricity actually comes from the roof in winter? A 10 kWp system in Bern produces about 1,744 kWh in the model from December through February.
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How much electricity does a solar PV system produce in winter?
During meteorological winter, December through February, a 10 kWp south-facing system in Bern produces about 1,744 kWh, or 14.3% of its modelled annual output. The household and heat pump use about 3,560 kWh over those same three months.
The winter total
Here, meteorological winter means December through February. Modelled generation is 456 kWh in December, 552 in January and 736 in February: 1,744 kWh in total. That is 14.3% of this system’s 12,232 kWh annual output.
The household and heat pump use about 3,560 kWh over the same three months. The system therefore generates a meaningful amount in winter, but it does not cover the modelled demand on its own.
A Bern case with a heat pump
The model combines 4,050 kWh of household electricity with 4,950 kWh/year of heat-pump electricity. Heat-pump use varies by season and is not a measurement from a specific building. PV generation uses the PVGIS profile for Bern.
Bern example: PV and a heat pump month by month
A 10 kWp south-facing system at 30° in Bern (postcode 3011). We add 4,950 kWh/year of modelled heat-pump electricity to the household’s 4,050 kWh, for a total of 9,000 kWh. All other inputs stay the same; only battery capacity changes.
| Month | PV generation | Household + heat pump use | Grid imports with 10 kWh | Grid imports with 15 kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 552 kWh | 1,286 kWh | 759 kWh | 754 kWh |
| February | 736 kWh | 1,057 kWh | 520 kWh | 437 kWh |
| March | 1,127 kWh | 1,006 kWh | 394 kWh | 271 kWh |
| April | 1,303 kWh | 763 kWh | 224 kWh | 96 kWh |
| May | 1,284 kWh | 565 kWh | 77 kWh | 5 kWh |
| June | 1,412 kWh | 369 kWh | 0 kWh | 0 kWh |
| July | 1,441 kWh | 335 kWh | 0 kWh | 0 kWh |
| August | 1,334 kWh | 342 kWh | 0 kWh | 0 kWh |
| September | 1,175 kWh | 434 kWh | 26 kWh | 0 kWh |
| October | 894 kWh | 646 kWh | 178 kWh | 50 kWh |
| November | 519 kWh | 980 kWh | 516 kWh | 486 kWh |
| December | 456 kWh | 1,217 kWh | 776 kWh | 776 kWh |
| Year | 12,232 kWh | 9,000 kWh | 3,471 kWh | 2,875 kWh |
During meteorological winter (December to February), generation totals 1,744 kWh out of 12,232 kWh for the year, or 14.3%. Household and heat-pump demand is about 3,560 kWh over those three months. A 15 kWh battery lowers winter grid imports from 2,055 to 1,967 kWh, but December remains 776 kWh with either battery. A battery shifts energy across nearby hours; it cannot store summer surplus until winter.
Official and specialist sources
- SFOE: photovoltaic market – 2025 price study
- ElCom: electricity tariffs 2026
- Pronovo: one-off payment calculator
- SwissEnergy: home battery storage
- SwissEnergy: self-consumption
- European Commission: PVGIS
- WattBilanz: Pronovo, exports, guarantees of origin and tax
Sources and price assumptions last checked on 18 September 2026.
Continue with your own data
Compare the monthly results and winter grid purchases, rather than judging the system only by annual self-sufficiency.