The canton of Bern ranges from urban districts to agricultural areas and alpine regions. For photovoltaics, therefore, a single cantonal figure is not decisive; rather, it is the combination of Pronovo, city or municipal contributions, the grid operator, and tax practice. In the city of Bern, ewb programmes are particularly worth examining.
Key points at a glance
For subsidies in the canton of Bern, these points matter most in 2026:
- Standard PV is primarily subsidised in the canton of Bern through Pronovo.
- The cantonal subsidy programme for PV-related topics should rather be assessed in terms of systems, solar thermal or charging infrastructure.
- In the City of Bern, there are ewb subsidy programmes for PV and battery storage.
- BKW, ewb, Energie Thun and local utilities determine feed-in and HKN.
- For tax purposes, existing buildings, new builds and subsidy contributions must be clearly separated.
The specific subsidy always depends on address, system, building condition, grid operator, and deadlines of the respective program.
- As of 11.07.2026
Federal subsidy 2026 at a glance
For photovoltaic systems, there are one-off payments nationwide via Pronovo. The most important instruments are:
- KLEIV - One-off payment for systems with less than 100 kW capacity.
- GREIV - One-off payment for systems of 100 kW or more.
- HEIV - high one-off payment for systems without self-consumption from 2 kW to 149.99 kW.
- Auctions and other instruments - for larger systems without self-consumption, auctions, the sliding market premium or other subsidy instruments may apply depending on the project.
- Additional bonuses - depending on the system, winter electricity, tilt angle, or parking area bonuses may be relevant.
Deadlines are not the same for all instruments. The KLEIV is generally applied for after commissioning. For GREIV, HEIV, auctions as well as cantonal or municipal programmes, other deadlines may apply; they should be checked before ordering or starting construction.
Cantonal subsidies in the canton of Bern
In the canton of Bern, Pronovo is generally the most important funding channel for standard photovoltaic systems. The cantonal energy programme lists PV-related funding topics, but there is no flat-rate cantonal standard PV subsidy for every system.
In the city of Bern, the programmes of Energie Wasser Bern are important instead. There, PV systems and battery storage can receive additional contributions, provided the conditions of the local programme are met.
In rural municipalities, for agricultural roofs, and in the Bernese Oberland, municipalities, local energy suppliers, grid connections, and for large systems also Pronovo auctions or other federal instruments must be assessed separately.
Urban and municipal subsidies
City of Bern / Energie Wasser Bern (ewb)
Energie Wasser Bern and the Eco Fund for Renewable Energies support homeowners in the city of Bern in building photovoltaic systems with a one-off payment per installed kilowatt-peak. In addition, ewb offers free initial consultations. The city of Bern has set itself the goal of significantly increasing PV electricity production by 2035.
Other municipalities
Many Bernese municipalities – from Münsingen and Belp to Thun and individual Oberland and Emmental municipalities – offer their own programmes. The amount and conditions vary greatly. In addition to the federal and cantonal levels, municipalities, cities, or energy suppliers may also offer their own subsidy programmes. Therefore, subsidies should always be checked based on the specific address – most easily via Energiefranken.ch.
Tax notes in the canton of Bern
The Bern TaxInfo treats investments serving energy saving and environmental protection as a tax-relevant topic. For existing buildings, PV costs can generally be deductible; subsidies reduce the deductible costs. For new builds and value-increasing portions, the distinction is important. There is no uniform 10-kWp tax-free threshold across Switzerland.
Important: Feed-in remuneration, self-consumption and subsidies are treated differently depending on cantonal tax practice. Therefore, larger systems, new builds and special cases should be clarified in advance with the tax office or fiduciary.
Feed-in remuneration and feed-in tariffs in the canton of Bern
Feed-in tariffs paid by the grid operator are not uniform across cantons; the specific grid operator is decisive. From 2026 onwards, if no agreement is reached between the grid operator and the system operator, the quarterly reference market price calculated by the federal government applies. Minimum remuneration rates exist for photovoltaic systems under 150 kW; for systems up to 30 kW, this rate is 6 Rp./kWh. Certificates of origin, local green electricity models and specific grid operator tariffs must be checked separately. Details on the page Feed-in Remuneration Switzerland.
Economically, self-consumption remains central. For apartment buildings, sites, and mixed-use buildings, ZEV, vZEV, and from 2026 local electricity communities (LEG) should be considered. A LEG is not an automatic return guarantee, but a new option that must fit the project technically, legally, and economically.
Permits and insurance in the canton of Bern
Many adapted roof systems are subject to notification requirements. For protected village landscapes, agricultural zones, alpine installations, facade installations, or natural hazard zones, additional regulations may apply in the canton of Bern. The Gebäudeversicherung Bern should be taken into account for photovoltaic installations that increase the value of the property and questions about coverage.
In the canton of Bern, Gebäudeversicherung Bern GVB is relevant for building insurance. Owners should clarify whether the photovoltaic system, roof renovation and any battery storage are correctly included in the insured sum and coverage.
Who benefits most from photovoltaics in the canton of Bern?
Typical situations can be categorised for this canton as follows:
| Situation | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Single-family home in the midlands with a good roof | Most worth checking |
| Farm with a large roof | Very interesting, possibly GREIV and ZEV |
| Heat pump or planned heating replacement | Self-consumption significantly increases value |
| E-car present or planned | Charging times matter, EMS is worthwhile |
| Apartment building | Check ZEV/vZEV/LEG |
| Location in the Bernese Oberland / alpine setting | Consider winter yield; a winter electricity bonus may apply to large systems |
| Buildings in local landscape or protection zones | Clarify building permit individually |
What remains decisive is how well roof area, self-consumption, subsidies, and feed-in tariff paid by the grid operator work together.
Checklist before the quote
Before requesting a quote, this information should be available so that the subsidy and cost-effectiveness can be checked properly:
- Address, municipality and grid area determine
- Check roof area, orientation, pitch and shading
- Calculate system size in kWp and expected annual/winter yield
- Check Pronovo instrument: KLEIV, GREIV, HEIV or for large systems auction/GMP
- Bern: ewb programmes only in the relevant supply area, otherwise check the municipality/grid operator separately
- Check subsidy deadlines for each programme: KLEIV usually after commissioning, local programmes often earlier
- Tax deduction: separate existing building, new build/replacement new build and subsidy contributions
- Check the feed-in tariff paid by the grid operator, HKN and any possible green electricity models with the grid operator
- Realistically calculate self-consumption, battery storage, heat pump, electric car, ZEV/vZEV and LEG
- Clarify permit, protected objects, building insurance and any private additional coverage
With this information, the specialist installer can assess subsidy, self-consumption and technical design significantly more robustly.
solar-guide.ch recommends: In the canton of Bern, it should first be clarified whether the project is located in an area with local additional subsidies. The city of Bern and rural municipalities differ significantly.
Conclusion
In the canton of Bern, the site assessment is particularly important in 2026: Pronovo forms the basis, while local programmes and grid operators determine additional benefits and cost-effectiveness.
Via solar-guide.ch, you can have your request forwarded to a maximum of 3 suitable specialist installers. Subsidy, tax, and grid conditions should be checked directly with Pronovo, the canton, the municipality, and the grid operator before placing the final order.
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Frequently asked questions and answers
What subsidies for solar systems are available in the canton of Bern in 2026?
Nationwide: the one-off payment via Pronovo (KLEIV/GREIV/HEIV) and, from 2026, the winter electricity bonus for larger systems. Cantonal level: an extensive energy funding programme focusing on building renovation, heating replacement, and consulting. In the city of Bern, additionally an ewb contribution for photovoltaics.
Are there cantonal contributions in addition to the Pronovo subsidy?
The main contribution for standard photovoltaics comes via the one-off payment. The cantonal subsidy programme focuses on building envelope, heating replacement and solar thermal; direct PV contributions are not widespread but possible during programme phases. Current status: weu.be.ch.
Is battery storage subsidised in the canton of Bern?
For battery storage, there is no comprehensive cantonal subsidy in 2026. Individual municipalities or energy suppliers may provide contributions – check via Energiefranken.
Are there municipal contributions for photovoltaics?
In many Bernese municipalities, yes, with very different rates. Amounts and deadlines change; overview on Energiefranken.
Can I deduct a solar system for tax purposes?
Yes. For existing buildings, fully as property maintenance; since 2024, this also applies to new buildings. Subsidies received are deducted from the deductible amount. Amounts not used in one year can be carried forward to subsequent years.
Who helps with the subsidy application?
Your specialist installer usually handles the application to Pronovo on your behalf. Cantonal and municipal applications should be submitted by you or your installer in good time – before construction begins.
