In-roof solar in the Canton of ThurgauSolar map and extra subsidy

Solar roofs in historic core zones and protected townscapes

The Canton of Thurgau eased the permit duty significantly in September 2025. About 10% of the roughly 110,000 buildings remain subject to a permit. In the building zone, sufficiently well-adapted systems under 35 m² need neither a notification nor a permit, as long as no natural or cultural monument of cantonal or national importance is affected. From 35 m², a notification to the commune is enough. A building permit is needed in ISOS areas with conservation target A, on individually protected buildings and on buildings with a protection procedure under way. For all other buildings, depending on the area, a notification to the commune is enough or no procedure is needed at all. This makes a solar roof in Thurgau simpler even in old village centres. The solar map in ThurGIS shows whether your roof is one of them.

Subsidies

For integrated systems, the federal government pays a higher one-off payment (Einmalvergütung, EIV) through Pronovo than for add-on systems. The canton does not subsidise the photovoltaic system directly. However, its 2026 energy subsidy programme (as of 1 July 2026) pays CHF 40 per square metre for roof insulation and an additional CHF 20 if a solar electricity system of at least 30 watts per square metre of energy reference area is installed on the insulated area. The extra contribution is capped at CHF 50,000. For tax purposes, the tax administration’s information sheet allows photovoltaic systems on your own roof to be deducted on existing buildings, but not on new builds within five years of completion.

Plan the roof renovation and solar roof together

In Thurgau, a lot of roof area is on farms and single-family homes. In a renovation, insulation, underlay and covering are needed anyway, and in-roof modules replace the tiles on the covered area. Buildings with a building permit from before 2000 are eligible, and the application must be submitted before construction starts. We submit it for you and compare in-roof with on-roof.