Photovoltaics for businesses in the Canton of Basel-City
Commercial solar in the Canton of Basel-CityNotification, not a permit.
In the industrial and commercial zone of Basel-City, a notification is enough for well-integrated roof systems. We clarify zone, protection status and grid connection at IWB in advance.
- Site visit: free and with no obligation
- Binding quote within 72 hours
- Calculated with the business tariff in the Canton of Basel-City: 32.7 ct./kWh
Prefer to talk?044 980 08 80
Request a free site visit
Takes 1 minute. No obligation.
- Building
- Location
- Contact
Thank you. We have your request.
We will call you within one working day to arrange the appointment.
Add details Optional
Prefer to talk now? 044 980 08 80
- documented reference systems
- 29
- output of these systems
- 718.1kWp
- to a binding quote
- 72h
- is what the site visit costs
- 0CHF
- Member of
smart-me
Partner 2025
Data in the Canton of Basel-City
Solar power for businesses in the Canton of Basel-City
- Electricity price 2026 for small businesses
- 32.7ct./kWh
- Category C2 (30,000 kWh a year), excluding VAT. 7.6 ct. above the Swiss median (25.1 ct.).
- Household electricity price 2026
- 33.2ct./kWh
- Median of the grid operators, excluding VAT. 5.5 ct. above the Swiss median (27.7 ct.).
- Solar potential of the roofs per year
- 634GWh
- Used so far: 9.4% (Switzerland 12.8%).
- Solar potential of the façades per year
- 198GWh
- Façades yield less than roofs, but more in winter.
- Solar power per person per year
- 264kWh
- Switzerland: 866 kWh.
- hailstones are to be expected about every 50 years
- 4.0cm
- Typical value of the communes according to MeteoSwiss. Important for choosing modules and for insurance.
Example: 100 kWp system on a commercial roof in the Canton of Basel-City
- Yield per yeararound 100,000 kWh
- Used in the business (50%)50,000 kWh
- Grid power saved per yeararound CHF 16,400
- Federal one-off paymentaround CHF 31,800
Guide value, not a quote. Assumptions: 1,000 kWh per kWp, a business that uses power during the day, electricity price 32.7 ct./kWh excluding VAT (category C2). Large businesses often have their own tariffs. We calculate with your load profile. More in our guide How much does a solar system cost?
Calculate it for my businessSources: ElCom (electricity prices 2026), Swiss Federal Office of Energy (solar potential), Energie Reporter by geoimpact on behalf of SwissEnergy (solar power, electric cars; CC BY 4.0), Federal Statistical Office (Register of Buildings and Dwellings), MeteoSwiss (hail climate), Energy Promotion Ordinance (one-off payment).
Commercial solar in the Canton of Basel-City
What applies to businesses with a solar system in Basel-City
Rules for businesses in Basel-City
Basel-City regulates solar systems in the implementing provisions to its building and planning ordinance (§ 7 ABPV). Well-integrated roof systems must be notified, among others in the industrial and commercial zone and in agricultural zones. The notification goes at least two weeks before work starts, using the electronic form, to the Building and Hospitality Inspectorate (Bau- und Gastgewerbeinspektorat). A building application (Baubegehren) is needed for cultural monuments and in protection zones.
In 2025 the cantonal government sent a revised solar offensive to the Grand Council. For existing buildings with more than 100 m² of suitable roof area, it provides for a solar duty with a long transition period, with exceptions for cultural property of cantonal or national importance. For large halls and commercial buildings, this is a reason to plan the system early.
Subsidies and one-off payment
The canton does not directly subsidise stand-alone photovoltaic systems. The Solarkraftwerk Basel campaign pays CHF 100 per m² of roof or CHF 140 per m² of facade if you renovate the building envelope for energy efficiency and cover the renovated area with modules. The application must be submitted before work starts and is valid while the budget lasts.
The federal government pays the one-off payment (Einmalvergütung) through Pronovo. From 100 kWp the one-off payment for large systems applies. We check which option is possible for your business and submit the application. For the cost structure, see the guide.
For tax purposes, the general depreciation rules apply to business assets. Clarify the details with your tax adviser.
Self-consumption in your business
IWB supplies electricity in all three communes of the canton. Because roof space in the city is limited, every square metre counts. We read out your load profile and plan the system so that the solar power stays in your business, for example for cooling, ventilation or EV chargers. A battery storage unit can cap peaks. More on the process on the page solar systems for businesses.
Grid operators
Electricity prices 2026 in the Canton of Basel-City
What power from the grid costs is set by your grid operator. The more expensive grid power is, the more every kilowatt hour you use from your own roof is worth.Swiss median: 27.7 ct./kWh.
| Grid operator | Communes | ct./kWh |
|---|---|---|
| IWB Industrielle Werke Basel | 3 | 33.2 |
Source: ElCom, Federal Electricity Commission, tariffs 2026.
The free site visit
One appointment at your home. Then you know everything.
A project manager from our team visits you and checks three things. No sales show, no obligation. Afterwards you receive a binding quote with yield, subsidies and payback.
01Roof
Area, orientation, pitch, condition of the roof covering and shading.
02Electrical system
Grid connection, distribution board and space for inverter and battery.
03Your consumption
Electricity bill, car, heating, plans. From this we calculate yield and subsidies.
How your project runs
Request
Tell us briefly about your building and your goal. Online or by phone.
Site visit
We check your roof, electrical system and consumption at your home. Free of charge.
Quote in 72 hours
Binding and transparent, with yield, subsidies and payback.
Permit and subsidies
We handle the notification procedure, the grid operator and Pronovo.
Installation and commissioning
Our own installers, a fixed date, final inspection with you on the roof.
Step 1 takes one minute. We take care of the rest.
Google reviews
What our customers say about us.
5.0
Unabridged and unedited, straight from our Google profile. The reviews are in German.
All reviews on GoogleWir sind sehr zufrieden mit unserer Wallbox für unser E-Auto.
Cemil B. · October 2026
Wir können Solarinnovation.ch und insbesondere Jordan für seine kompetente Beratung und perfekte Umsetzung als zuverlässigen Partner für nachhaltige Energielösungen aus einer Hand von Herzen weiterempfehlen. Er hat uns mit seinem umfangreichen Fachwissen von der ersten Beratung bis und mit der Umsetzung kompetent begleitet. Er hat alle Fragen immer verständlich erklärt. Wir sind mit der Indach-Solaranlage, kombiniert mit einem Speicher sehr zufrieden.
Daniel · August 2026
Die SolarInnovation GmbH hat mich durch ihre sehr flexible und kompetente Beratung und Arbeitsausführung sehr überzeugt!
Frederic L. · September 2025
Eine sehr seriöses Firma. Danke Aulson, Danke Jorden.
Alex I. · August 2025
Top Service und super Beratung! Unsere Solaranlage am linken Zürichseeufer läuft perfekt, produziert mehr Strom als erwartet und sieht auch noch toll aus. Absolut empfehlenswert!
Marc W. · August 2025
Built near you.
29 projects, 718.1 kWp in total. From Zumikon and Lachen we work all over German-speaking Switzerland, most often in the cantons of Zurich, St. Gallen, Schwyz and Aargau.
Canton of Zurich
- Rüti41.1 kWp
- Zürich26.6 kWp
- Zürich6.8 kWp
- Zürich10.9 kWp
- Gossau ZH7.7 kWp
- Zollikerberg17.7 kWp
- Ebmatingen16.9 kWp
- Ebmatingen17 kWp
- Zürich7.5 kWp
- Maur6.9 kWp
- Herrliberg14.8 kWp
- Herrliberg12 kWp
- Meilen17.2 kWp
- Bachs10.2 kWp
Canton of St. Gallen
Canton of Schwyz
Canton of Aargau
- Staffelbach16 kWp
- Reinach AG20.7 kWp
- Berikon19.8 kWp
- Oberkulm20.7 kWp
Canton of Lucerne
Canton of Zug
Frequently asked questions
Before you get in touch.
Is the site visit really free?
Yes. The visit and the quote cost you nothing and commit you to nothing. You only decide once you hold the binding quote in your hands.
Do I need a building application in Basel-City for a solar system on a company roof?
Roof systems that are well integrated must be notified, among others in the industrial and commercial zone, and no building application (Baubegehren) is needed. The notification is made at least two weeks before work starts. For listed buildings and in protection zones, the building application is still required.
Is there a solar duty for existing commercial buildings in Basel-City?
In 2025 the cantonal government presented a revised solar offensive. It provides for a duty for existing buildings with more than 100 m² of suitable roof area. At the site visit we tell you which status applies to your building.
Does Basel-City subsidise photovoltaics for businesses?
The canton does not subsidise stand-alone photovoltaic systems. The Solarkraftwerk campaign pays a contribution if you renovate the roof or facade for energy efficiency and cover the area with modules. The federal one-off payment (Einmalvergütung) through Pronovo comes on top.
How large a roof does a commercial system need?
A rule of thumb: each kWp needs around 5 to 6 m² of module area. Commercial systems often start at 30 kWp and go well beyond. We measure what fits on your roof at the site visit.
How high is self-consumption in a business?
That depends on the business. If you work during the day, you often use a large share of the solar power directly. Businesses with cooling, machinery or ventilation in the daytime usually do better than offices. We read out your load profile data for this.
Can a solar system reduce peak loads?
In part. Solar power peaks at midday, but demand peaks can also occur in the morning or evening. A commercial battery with controls can cut peaks. We calculate beforehand whether that brings anything under your tariff.
Which regions do you cover?
All of German-speaking Switzerland. We build most often in the cantons of Zurich, St. Gallen, Schwyz and Aargau. Our locations are in Zumikon ZH and Lachen SZ.
From one company
Goes well with
The first step
We come to you. Free of charge.
We check your roof, electrical system and consumption. Afterwards you know what is possible on your roof, what it costs and which subsidies you receive. The binding quote follows within 72 hours.
- Free and with no obligation
- Quote within 72 hours
- Subsidies pre-financed on request
