Guide · Switzerland
A PV system is more than an investment
A solar installation costs money and deserves a sound calculation. But financial return is not always the only question. Where your electricity comes from and how you want to power your home in future can matter too.
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A PV system is more than an investment
Solar electricity combines long-term cost control with climate action, local generation and more options for heat pumps, mobility and collective self-consumption.
What do you want the system to do for you?
You may want more control over bills, to prepare for a heat pump or to charge a car with your own electricity. These goals can sit alongside each other. Naming them before planning helps avoid judging a project intended to meet several wishes by one financial measure alone.
Calculate honestly, then make a conscious choice
Wanting more of your own electricity does not need to be presented as an extra financial return. Ask what the economical option costs and what you would pay for more panels or storage. You can then decide whether that personal benefit is worth the extra cost. A transparent calculation informs that decision; it does not set your priorities for you.
The key considerations
A robust decision can pursue several goals. Keep economics, self-sufficiency, climate impact and comfort separate so personal value is not presented as invented return and financial drawbacks are not hidden.
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 an economical baseline with the option that meets your other goals, so you can see what the additional spending buys.