Solar subsidies in Neuchâtel in 2026: what you actually receive

A Neuchâtel homeowner installing panels in 2026 can count on three forms of support, and a fourth since 1 March. None of them comes from the same counter, and two must be requested in a precise order. Here is the complete map, with the amounts as they apply today.

The federal base: Pronovo’s one-off remuneration

This is the grant that weighs the most, everywhere in Switzerland. For an installation on an existing roof, the capacity-based contribution is worth 360 francs per kWp up to 30 kWp, then 300 francs per kWp above that. A basic contribution of 200 francs only remains for very small installations, under 5 kW. Roof-integrated installations and those with a steep tilt or at altitude receive bonuses. On a house with 10 kWp, count on around 3’600 francs, for a gross investment in the region of 15’000 to 25’000 francs depending on size and mounting.

Two rules to know: the application is submitted after commissioning, with proof of grid connection, and payment arrives several months later. The rates are set by the Confederation and can change from one year to the next, Pronovo’s rate calculator gives the amount of the day.

What the canton adds, and for whom

The canton of Neuchâtel has no general subsidy for photovoltaics on single-family houses. Its direct cantonal grant targets large roofs: 11’000 francs for an installation of more than 90 kWp, roughly 450 m² of panels. A farm, an apartment building, a workshop hall or a condominium with a very large roof qualify, not the villa.

New since 1 March 2026: the canton subsidises storage batteries coupled with a photovoltaic installation, existing or new. The amount is made up of a flat 800 francs plus 80 francs per kWh of capacity, from 3 kWh upwards, the supported capacity being capped at twice the installed power, 2 kWh per kWp. A 10 kWh battery on a 10 kWp installation gives 1’600 francs. The application goes to the canton, before the works.

The BCN bonus

The Banque Cantonale Neuchâteloise pays a solar subsidy to its mortgage clients: 5% of the installation cost, capped at 2’000 francs. It can be combined with Pronovo and with the cantonal grant, and is requested from the bank, with supporting documents, once the installation has been paid for.

The tax deduction, the support people forget

On an existing building, the cost of the installation, net of subsidies, is deducted from taxable income as maintenance expenses, in the year of payment. For a net installation cost of 20’000 francs, that is several thousand francs less tax depending on your rate, which often weighs as much as the one-off remuneration itself. A project too large for a single year can sometimes be invoiced over two tax years, to be checked with your accountant.

The order of the steps

1. Before signing: apply for the cantonal grant for the battery or for a large roof, if you qualify. The canton subsidises nothing that has already started.
2. At commissioning: the Pronovo file, generally prepared by the installer, with the grid connection certificate.
3. After payment: the BCN bonus if you are entitled to it, and the net invoice in the tax return.

What it changes on a typical project

For 10 kWp on a villa on the Littoral, without a battery: around 3’600 francs from Pronovo, up to 2’000 francs from the BCN, and the tax deduction on the balance. The canton does not step in, and that is normal, its policy targets roofs that produce for a whole neighbourhood. The real profitability lever lies elsewhere, in the share of self-consumption and in a properly read quote.

SOLARSPLIT’s free online study calculates the one-off remuneration for your roof and your address, and flags the cantonal and bank grants you are entitled to, before you even request an offer.