Switzerland forecasts annual solar capacity growth of 1.5 GW by 2027

The Swiss Solar Association (Swissolar) recently released a report stating that as the industry adapts to policy uncertainties and reductions in feed-in tariffs, Switzerland’s annual photovoltaic (PV) installation capacity could reach an average of 1.5 GW by 2027. In its 2025 Solar Monitoring Report, the organization outlines three scenarios for potential market development and urges policymakers to maintain steady PV expansion.

The association expects Switzerland to add around 1.5 GW of new PV capacity this year—lower than the roughly 2 GW added in both 2023 and 2024, which marked record highs. Swissolar President Jürg Grossen noted that maintaining an annual installation rate of 1.5 GW is sufficient for meeting the country’s 2050 climate goals.

The 2025 Solar Monitoring Report highlights that new solar systems are already influencing the electricity market. Swissolar predicts that by 2025, solar power generation will exceed 8 TWh, accounting for about 14% of annual electricity consumption. “Total solar power generation will be equivalent to that of a nuclear power plant,” Grossen said at a press conference this week.

Swissolar CEO Matthias Egli presented three scenarios from the report. The “medium scenario” forecasts annual PV additions of 1.5 GW for both 2026 and 2027, rising to 1.8 GW by 2030. The “slowdown scenario” expects annual additions of 1.2 GW by 2030, while the “fast scenario” anticipates growth to 2.7 GW by 2030, depending on policy and market conditions.

The association pointed to low feed-in tariff subsidies and uncertain demand outlook—such as the upcoming electricity-rationing measures that may lift the ban on new nuclear power plants—as factors contributing to an unstable investment environment.

Prices across all market segments and system sizes continue to fall. Most new capacity still comes from rooftop PV installations, while agrivoltaics, alpine plants, and infrastructure-based projects contribute only marginally to annual output.

Despite these challenges, Swissolar emphasized several positive trends. The association noted that PV and hydropower remain an ideal “dream combination” for stable power supply, and battery storage deployment continues to rise. A comprehensive storage report is planned for release in spring 2026, with forecasts suggesting that battery storage capacity will reach 1.25 GWh by the end of 2025—about 50% higher than in 2024.

Switzerland’s installed 8 GW of PV capacity is already affecting wholesale electricity prices, especially in summer. Swissolar stated that flexibility measures such as battery storage and shared solar models—including Zero-Emission Communities (ZEV) and Local Energy Communities (LEG)—can help alleviate falling prices and grid pressure. The association urged the Federal Council to adjust grid-fee regulations to promote shared usage and reduce the need for costly grid expansion.