Switzerland mulls tax change to incentivise solar deployment

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
Switzerland is hoping to ramp up the amount of solar and wind in its energy mix. Image: Unsplash

Switzerland’s government has launched a consultation on a raft of policies to support renewable energy, including increasing tax incentives for PV projects and streamlining application processes in a bid to “accelerate the development of solar energy production”.

The Swiss Federal Council said on Thursday (3 February) that it wanted to exploit the potential of residential and commercial solar. To do so, “an incentive must additionally be created by the possibility of also deducting investments in solar installations from taxes on new constructions,” said the council.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

Presently, only costs for renovations are deductible and not those relating to new construction. 

The council is also planning to simplify the process for obtaining a solar installation permit for building facades.

The deadline for responding to the consultation launched today by the Federal Council runs until 23 May 2022.

Switzerland, which has an average energy consumption higher than France and Germany, gets most of its electricity from hydropower (59.9%), nuclear power (33.5%) and conventional thermal power plants (2.3%).

It will need to expand its solar and wind assets in the coming years if it is to hit its net zero by 2050 target. It already has 638 hydroelectric plants across the country, with it becoming a less viable option.

Read Next

June 16, 2025
US solar residential installer Sunnova has received court approval for a US$90 million debtor-in-possession financing agreement.
June 10, 2025
US residential solar companies Sunnova and Solar Mosaic have filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.
June 9, 2025
US residential solar installer Sunnova has laid off more than half of its workforce, while a subsidiary from Delaware filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
June 2, 2025
The US Department of Energy has downsized a loan to US residential solar installer Sunnova from an initial US$3 billion to US$371.6 million.
May 23, 2025
The California State Assembly’s Appropriations Committee has passed a net metering bill that could worsen residential solar owners’ rates when acquiring a property.
May 13, 2025
The US House Ways and Means Committee has proposed to bring forward the end date for residential energy tax credits (Section 25D) to the end of 2025, among other changes that could affect the solar industry.

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Webinars
June 30, 2025
10am PST / 6pm BST
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Solar Media Events
July 1, 2025
London, UK
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
July 2, 2025
Bangkok, Thailand
Media Partners, Solar Media Events
September 2, 2025
Mexico City, Mexico