Solar roof in the Canton of St. Gallen
In-roof solar in the Canton of St. GallenTraffic light for townscapes
In the Canton of St. Gallen a traffic-light system decides the procedure in townscape protection areas. A full-surface in-roof system is one of the recognised solutions. Free site visit, quote within 72 hours.
- Site visit: free and with no obligation
- Binding quote within 72 hours
- Calculated with the electricity price in the Canton of St. Gallen: 29.8 ct./kWh
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- documented reference systems
- 29
- output of these systems
- 718.1kWp
- to a binding quote
- 72h
- is what the site visit costs
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Data in the Canton of St. Gallen
Solar power in the Canton of St. Gallen in figures
- Household electricity price 2026
- 29.8ct./kWh
- Median of the grid operators, excluding VAT. 2.1 ct. above the Swiss median (27.7 ct.).
- Solar potential of the roofs per year
- 4,072GWh
- Used so far: 17.0% (Switzerland 12.8%).
- Solar potential of the façades per year
- 1,422GWh
- Façades yield less than roofs, but more in winter.
- Solar power per person per year
- 1,170kWh
- Switzerland: 866 kWh.
- of residential buildings were built before 1981
- 58.7%
- Switzerland: 59.5%. If the roof needs renovating, the solar roof can be planned in at the same time.
- hailstones are to be expected about every 50 years
- 3.5cm
- Typical value of the communes according to MeteoSwiss. Important for choosing modules and for insurance.
Example: 10 kWp in-roof system on a single-family home in the Canton of St. Gallen
- Yield per yeararound 10,000 kWh
- Self-consumed (30%)3,000 kWh
- Grid power saved per yeararound CHF 890
- One-off payment for integrated systemsCHF 4,000
Guide value, not a quote. Assumptions: 1,000 kWh per kWp, electricity price 29.8 ct./kWh excluding VAT. Integrated systems receive a higher one-off payment than mounted ones, because the modules form the roof skin. More in our guide How much does a solar system cost?
Calculate it for my roofSources: 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).
In-roof solar in the Canton of St. Gallen
What applies to your solar roof in the Canton of St. Gallen
Solar roofs in historic core zones and protected townscapes
Together with the communes, the Canton of St. Gallen has clarified the permit practice for townscape protection areas and individually protected buildings. It works with a traffic-light system. In green areas no building permit is needed if the system meets the design requirements: a compact rectangular shape, with blind modules where necessary, black or roof-matched modules without light or glossy parts, and either about 50 cm distance from the roof edges or a full-surface in-roof system.
In orange and red areas, a building permit procedure involving heritage protection is needed. Orange roofscapes have a high value, and there in-roof and on-roof solutions are not excluded per se. Arrangement, shape, colour and texture are what matter. With in-roof systems, the modules form the roof covering. The original covering is replaced or stays in place as a frame in the areas that are not covered. Common systems use similar module formats to on-roof systems, mostly frameless and laid overlapping like tiles. Whether and when the new practice applies depends on your commune. For cultural and natural monuments of cantonal or national importance, a building permit is always needed. The fire protection permit also goes through the commune, and the St.Gallen building insurance is responsible.
Subsidies
For integrated systems, the federal government pays a higher one-off payment (Einmalvergütung, EIV) through Pronovo than for add-on systems. We are not aware of a cantonal subsidy programme for photovoltaics. Many communes have their own programmes, and the Energieagentur St.Gallen offers a subsidy calculator for them. We check the current position for your commune.
Plan the roof renovation and solar roof together
Around 59% of residential buildings in the canton were built before 1980. If you are re-covering the roof, you can plan insulation, underlay and in-roof modules in one step. In protected townscapes this is especially worthwhile, because the full-surface option opens the way without a building permit in the green category.
Grid operators
Electricity prices 2026 in the Canton of St. Gallen
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.
| Commune | Grid operator | ct./kWh |
|---|---|---|
| St. Gallen | St.Galler Stadtwerke | 30.6 |
| Rapperswil-Jona | Elektrizitätswerk Jona-Rapperswil AG | 23.1 |
| Wil | Technische Betriebe Wil | 31.1 |
| Gossau | Stadtwerke Gossau | 27.9 |
| Uzwil | St. Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke AG | 29.7 |
| Buchs | Elektrizitäts- und Wasserwerk der Stadt Buchs (EWB) | 29.6 |
| Altstätten | Technische Betriebe Altstätten | 31.2 |
| Flawil | Technische Betriebe Flawil (TBF) | 27.9 |
| Widnau | Politische Gemeinde Widnau, Elektra / Stromversorgung | 27.1 |
| Rorschach | Technische Betriebe, Stadt Rorschach | 26.4 |
| Eschenbach | St. Gallisch-Appenzellische Kraftwerke AG | 29.3 |
| Wittenbach | St.Galler Stadtwerke | 29.5 |
| Kirchberg | rwt Regionalwerk Toggenburg AG | 25.1 |
| Goldach | Technische Betriebe Goldach | 30.5 |
| Mels | Politische Gemeinde Mels, Elektrizitäts- & Wasserwerk | 26.9 |
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 permit for an in-roof system in a green townscape area in the Canton of St. Gallen?
No, if the design requirements are met. These include a compact rectangular shape, black or roof-matched modules, and either a full-surface in-roof system or a distance of about 50 cm from the roof edges.
What applies to solar roofs in orange and red areas in the Canton of St. Gallen?
A case-by-case assessment is needed there in the building permit procedure, involving the cantonal heritage protection office. In orange areas, in-roof and on-roof systems are not excluded per se, in red areas only in exceptional cases.
How are roof edges handled for in-roof systems in the Canton of St. Gallen?
When the covering is replaced over the full surface, the edge finishes are generally made with dummy modules, according to the canton's explanations. This keeps the roof surface uniform.
Is an in-roof system watertight?
Yes, if it is properly planned and installed. Together with flashings and seals, the modules form the water-bearing layer. Underneath, an underlay membrane remains as a second safeguard. Connections at the chimney, ridge and eaves are the critical points. We work with particular care there.
Can I convert my existing roof to in-roof?
Yes, but it only makes sense as part of a roof renovation. The tiles have to come off anyway then. If your roof is still in good condition, an on-roof system is usually the more economical solution. We tell you honestly during the site visit what is worthwhile.
Will an in-roof system be approved in a historic core zone?
Often more readily than an on-roof system, because it looks calmer. For protected buildings and in historic core zones, a permit is required, and the commune decides case by case. We clarify the situation for your address and submit the documents.
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
