Guide · Switzerland
Is a battery technically compatible with my PV system?
A battery needs to fit your home, not just a manufacturer’s brochure. With an existing PV system, it helps to look beyond model names: what stays, what gets added and how will everything work together?
Short answerShort answer
Is a battery technically compatible with my PV system?
Both AC and DC coupling can work. The inverter, meter, connection capacity, location, protection concept and desired backup function are decisive.
Ask for an explanation of your actual installation
AC versus DC can sound like a decision on principle. What matters is which solution fits the equipment you already have. Give the installer your inverter and electrical documentation. A clear quotation explains what will be kept, what needs replacing and why. The battery’s location should also be agreed before ordering.
What will work during a power cut?
A charged battery does not automatically mean the whole house will stay powered when the grid fails. If backup matters, identify the appliances you want to keep running. A fridge and a few sockets have different requirements from an entire house. Ask how the changeover works and what limits apply.
The key considerations
Ask the installer for a diagram showing energy flows, metering points and behaviour during a grid outage. ‘Backup capable’ may mean one socket, selected circuits or three-phase island operation—these are not equivalent.
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
Calculate the benefit using the cost of a technically suitable installation. Your installer needs to confirm compatibility and the scope of backup power.