Solar panel insurance in Switzerland — what is covered and what is not?

Switzerland's building insurance system — briefly explained

Switzerland has two building insurance systems:

System 1 — Mandatory CBI (19 cantons): Zurich (GVZ), Berne (GVB), Aargau, Lucerne, St. Gallen and others have mandatory state building insurance. Every homeowner is automatically covered. The solar system is covered as part of the building — if declared.

System 2 — GUSTAVO cantons (7 cantons without mandatory CBI): Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Obwalden, Valais. Homeowners must take out private building insurance. Coverage depends on the policy chosen.

Conclusion: In both systems — declare your solar installation and check exactly what risks are covered.

What does cantonal building insurance cover for solar systems?

Your solar system is in most cantons automatically covered as part of the building — provided you have declared the installation.

What the CBI covers:

The big catch: The CBI only covers the basic structure. What you often do NOT receive: scaffolding costs for repairs, lost revenue during repair time, additional costs from regulatory requirements, disposal costs for damaged modules.

• ✅ Fire damage — fire, lightning strike, explosion
• ✅ Natural hazard damage — hail, storm, flooding, snow load, landslide
• ✅ Water damage from pipe bursts (in some cantons)

What the CBI does NOT cover — the dangerous gaps

This is the core of this article. The most common causes of claims for solar systems are hail, overvoltage and technical defects. Hail is covered — overvoltage and defects are not:

• ❌ Theft — solar panels stolen from the roof? CBI does not pay.
• ❌ Vandalism — intentional damage? CBI does not pay.
• ❌ Short circuit — technical defect destroys the inverter? CBI does not pay.
• ❌ Overvoltage — lightning hits the grid, electronics destroyed? CBI does not pay.
• ❌ Animal bites — martens or birds damage cables? CBI does not pay.
• ❌ Operating errors — wrong settings damage the system? CBI does not pay.
• ❌ Lost revenue — system out of service for repairs? CBI does not pay.
• ❌ Manufacturing defects — factory fault in the module? CBI does not pay.

GUSTAVO cantons — Ticino, Valais, Geneva special case

In the GUSTAVO cantons (GE, UR, SZ, TI, AI, OW, VS), there is no mandatory state building insurance. This means: homeowners must take out private building insurance, fire and natural hazard damage is not automatically covered.

For solar system owners in these cantons: Check your policy carefully and ensure the solar installation is explicitly covered — including fire, natural hazards and ideally additional risks.

Building services insurance — how to close the gaps

Building services insurance (also called solar system insurance or photovoltaic insurance) covers all risks not handled by the CBI. For a typical 10 kWp system: approx. CHF 100–200 per year.

What a good building services insurance covers:

• ✅ Short circuit and overvoltage damage
• ✅ Theft — panels, inverter, storage system
• ✅ Vandalism
• ✅ Animal bites — martens, birds
• ✅ Operating errors
• ✅ Construction and manufacturing defects
• ✅ Lost revenue during repair time
• ✅ Scaffolding costs for roof repairs
• ✅ Additional costs from regulatory requirements
• ✅ Battery storage system (if covered)

Which insurers offer solar insurance in Switzerland?

Known providers for solar system insurance in Switzerland:

GVB Solar (Berne canton): Special PV insurance, building on cantonal insurance. Helvetia: Photovoltaic insurance incl. lost revenue. Zurich: Renewable energy incl. heat pump. Mobiliar: Building services insurance, combinable with building. AXA: Building insurance+ with extension option. Allianz: Solar insurance with recognised policies.

Recommendation: Ask your existing building insurer first — you can often simply add the solar system as an additional option without taking out a new policy.

Do I need to register my solar system with my insurer?

Yes — this is very important. In cantons with CBI, the solar system counts as part of the building. To be covered, you must register the installation and adjust the building value. If you do not register, there may be no coverage for fire or natural hazard claims.

When to register: Ideally immediately after installation, at the latest within 30 days. In practice, the installer often handles this — ask them explicitly.

Battery storage — its own insurance status

The battery storage system (CHF 7'000–12'000) has its own insurance status. CBI: The storage system in the cellar is covered in most cantons against fire and natural hazards. Not covered: technical defects, overvoltage, short circuit.

Building services insurance: Most policies also cover the storage system — but check explicitly that it is mentioned in the insurance conditions. Sometimes it must be listed separately.

Hail — the most common claim in Switzerland

Switzerland has one of the highest hail risks in Europe — particularly in the canton of Berne, north-west Switzerland and the Plateau. Hail damage is covered by the CBI — but scaffolding costs and lost revenue are not.

Hail protection standards: Minimum standard withstands 25 mm hail. Recommended for Switzerland: 30 mm certification (IEC 61215). Best class: withstands 40 mm hail. In hail-prone regions: ask explicitly about the hail protection class when requesting quotes.

Checklist — insurance protection for your solar system

Check these points after installation:

• ✅ Installation registered with cantonal building insurance?
• ✅ Building value adjusted to account for the installation?
• ✅ Building services insurance taken out (short circuit, theft, animal bites)?
• ✅ Lost revenue included in additional insurance?
• ✅ Battery storage system explicitly covered?
• ✅ Hail protection class of the modules known?
• ✅ In GUSTAVO canton: private building insurance with PV coverage?