The "feed-in tariff" scheme

Since 1 May 2008, any owner of a photovoltaic installation can, if they wish, sell the solar power they have generated at cost price to the Swiss Confederation as part ofthe "Feed-in tariff" Confederation scheme managed by Swissgrid as an organisation.

The feed-in tariff varies between 48.3 and 59.2 cents per kWh depending on the power and type of installation. The higher rate is specific to small, integrated installations (up to 72m2 or 10 kW). See the online tariff calculator at www.swissgrid.ch.

Between May and July 2008, more than 5,000 applications were submitted, very quickly reaching the costceiling of the Federal Office for the Environment (FOE). New applications are currently being placed on a waiting list.

This in no way means that you have to give up starting a new project, on the contrary! An FOE directive states: "The year of construction of the installation serves as the base year for the value of payments over its term".

It is therefore possible to start your project "outside Swissgrid" and use the energy produced to save on your own electricity consumption. The project may later be taken on under a Swissgrid contract as soon as the waiting list has been processed. Currently, we estimate the waiting period to be between 2 and 3 years.

Thus, right at the outset of a project, a completed Swissgrid,official notice form, which we will arrange, will be sent to youwith all of thenecessary explanations.

Following acceptance of the application, we will support you through all of the formalities for official notice of commissioning the system and certification of the data by the grid operator to simplify the task for you

Grants

During the intervening waiting period, there are many industrial services replacing Swissgrid. Thus, from the time your system is commissioned, you will receive an attractive tariff. A simple transfer of the contract of your Swissgrid industrial service is completed as soon as you are off the waiting list.

Tax deductions

It is possible to deduct up to 100% of the investment costs in your tax declaration.