Hail in the Canton of Basel-City
Hail damage to solar systems in the Canton of Basel-CityGVBS and HW3.
In Basel-City, the solar system is part of the building and is insured against natural hazard damage by the GVBS. Since 2020, solar systems need a hail resistance of at least HW3.
- Site visit: free and with no obligation
- Binding quote within 72 hours
- We document the damage for your insurer
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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 Basel-City
Hail in the Canton of Basel-City in figures
- 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.
- solar capacity installed on roofs
- 64MW
- Every one of these systems is exposed to hail. After a storm, an inspection is worthwhile.
- Solar power per person per year
- 264kWh
- Switzerland: 866 kWh.
Hailstones in the Canton of Basel-City: what to expect
- About every 10 years2.5 cm
- About every 20 years3.0 cm
- About every 50 years4.0 cm
- About every 100 years4.0 cm
Typical values of the communes according to MeteoSwiss (hail climate Switzerland). The Swiss hail register (Hagelregister) rates modules in hail resistance classes: the higher the class, the larger the hailstones a module withstands. More on the page Hail damage to your solar system
Have my system checkedSources: 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).
Hail damage to solar systems in the Canton of Basel-City
Hail damage to your solar system: what applies in Basel-City
Who insures your solar system in Basel-City
In Basel-City, the Basel-City building insurance (GVBS) insures the buildings. According to its information, solar systems are to be insured as part of the building if they belong to the building owner. GVBS cover is limited to fire and natural hazard damage, which includes hail. Other damage such as glass breakage or business interruption is not covered by the GVBS. You can insure against these with a private insurer. A solar system is registered using an online form from the GVBS.
What to do after hail
Report the damage to your insurer and photograph the visible damage from the ground. We then inspect the system on site: modules, cables, connectors and inverter. Cell cracks are often not visible from outside, so we measure the strings as well. We document the damage for the insurer and replace defective modules. The GVBS decides on the payout.
Have the module type, number, year of construction and the invoice for the system ready. We enclose the proof of hail resistance for the modules, which the GVBS also requires for contribution applications, if we built the system or if the documents are available.
Hail protection for new systems
Since 2020, solar systems in Basel-City need a hail resistance of HW3 under SIA 261/1. When registering, you can also state HW4 or HW5. For solar systems on the roofs of buildings that are mainly residential, the GVBS pays prevention contributions if the system has a minimum certified hail resistance, belongs to you and is insured with the GVBS. The application needs the contractor invoice, the safety certificate under the NIV and the proof of hail resistance. We clarify the exact amount of the contributions with the GVBS before we quote. For new systems, we plan the proof in from the start.
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
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We check your roof, electrical system and consumption at your home. Free of charge.
Quote in 72 hours
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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.
Does the GVBS insure my solar system in Basel-City against hail?
As part of the building, solar systems are to be insured with the GVBS, provided they belong to the building owner. The cover includes fire and natural hazard damage. Glass breakage and business interruption are not included.
Which documents does the GVBS in Basel-City require for a contribution to a solar system?
For contribution applications, the GVBS needs the contractor invoice, the safety certificate under the NIV (low-voltage installations ordinance) and proof of hail resistance. Applications are possible up to one year back from the invoice date. We put the documents together.
What does HW3 mean for a solar system in Basel-City?
HW3 denotes a hail resistance class under SIA 261/1. The GVBS has named it for solar systems since 2020. When we build, we choose modules with the corresponding proof.
Can I always see hail damage on the modules?
No. Broken glass or cracks are visible. Fine cell cracks inside cannot be seen with the naked eye. They can reduce output or later lead to hotspots. So an inspection is worthwhile even if the modules look intact from the outside.
May I leave the system running after the hail?
Not if there is broken glass or visibly damaged cables. Broken modules can carry voltage. Switch the system off at the inverter switch if you can reach it safely, and keep away from the modules. Then call us.
Does cantonal building insurance pay for hail damage to a solar system?
Often yes, depending on the policy and the canton. Fixed-mounted systems are often covered by the cantonal building insurance, sometimes extra cover is needed. Check your policy and report the damage promptly. We supply the technical 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
