How does a home battery work?
A home battery stores surplus solar electricity produced during the day that is not immediately consumed. At night or on cloudy days, this stored electricity is used instead of buying expensive grid power.
Self-consumption without battery
25 to 35%
Self-consumption with battery
60 to 80%
Battery payback
10 to 14 years
Costs and capacities in 2026
Battery prices have fallen significantly in recent years.
The ideal battery size depends on your system and consumption.
Prices include installation and commissioning. If storage is added later without a hybrid inverter, an additional CHF 1'500 to CHF 3'000 applies.
- 5 kWh: CHF 3'500 to 5'000
- 10 kWh: CHF 5'500 to 7'500
- 15 kWh: CHF 7'500 to 9'500
- 20 kWh: CHF 9'500 to 12'000
Who benefits most from a home battery?
A home battery is especially profitable for households with high evening consumption, a heat pump or an electric vehicle.
- Household with heat pump: very profitable
- EV owner: night-time charging with own solar
- High evening consumption: battery optimal
- Businesses with consumption outside solar hours
Tax treatment and subsidies for batteries
The tax treatment of a battery depends on the canton, building and installation timing. Where the requirements are met, recognised costs may be deducted from taxable income as property maintenance – this is not a direct subsidy.
Separate cantonal or municipal storage programmes may exist, but must not be assumed. Check the specific programme and whether it can be combined with other support before ordering.
- Tax deduction: check the requirements and scope with the cantonal tax office
- Assume a separate storage incentive only where a current programme provides for it
- A heat-pump combination may receive additional support depending on location
Frequently Asked Questions
How large should my home battery be?+
With an EV or heat pump, you can go higher.
How long does a home battery last?+
Lifetime depends on the manufacturer, cell chemistry, usage and warranty terms.
Are there subsidies for batteries in Switzerland?+
Adding a battery does not increase the federal one-time payment (EIV). Separate cantonal or municipal programmes may exist depending on location and must be checked against their current conditions.
Can I add a battery retrospectively?+
Yes, in most cases a retrofit is possible. Modern inverters often already have a storage interface. The effort is slightly higher, but technically straightforward.
Elia Alacam
Founder of PvPro.ch
Elia Alacam founded PvPro.ch in Lugano. Since then, he has connected more than 1,000 quote requests with Swiss solar companies and writes here about costs, incentives and quotes.
About Elia Alacam →Indicative values, updated September 2026. Sources: Pronovo, ElCom, Swissolar.
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