Everything you need to know about the grid connection of your photovoltaic system
Anyone who opts for a photovoltaic system (PVS) on their own roof also needs to know how the connection to the grid works. We have put together all the key steps for you here – for systems with and without grid constructions. You will find the current remuneration rates and other important information here.
How do I connect my photovoltaic system to the grid?
How is the feed-in of your solar power remunerated?
If you produce electricity with your photovoltaic system and feed it into Primeo Energie’s distribution system, you can sell it to the Renewable Energy Balance Group (feed-in remuneration at cost), to Primeo Energie, or to another energy supplier.
For photovoltaic systems commissioned by 31 December 2016, the remuneration rates in the contractual agreement apply. The remuneration rates shown here apply to photovoltaic systems commissioned on or after 1 January 2017 or without any other agreement.
Prices
Depending on the technology, energy generation systems consume more or less electrical energy, which is often referred to as auxiliary energy. If you have decide to feed all of the electricity produced into Primeo Energie’s distribution system, a direct feed-in exists (also known as Metering Principle A).
Useful links and forms
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
No, owners of electricity generating systems can also sell their electricity to third parties.
According to the Energy Act, grid operators are obliged to purchase and pay for the energy offered to them from systems with a maximum output of three megawatts or annual output – less their private consumption – of maximum 5,000 megawatt hours. In other words: Private individuals or companies in the supply area of Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) can feed electricity into the distribution system and get remunerated for their return delivery.
The return delivery may be terminated with 30 days’ notice to the end of a quarter. Return deliveries to Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) may be resumed within the same period at the beginning of a quarter and must be notified by email to pva@primeo-energie.ch.
No; however, Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) accepts guarantees of origin as standard at the customer’s request if all documents are available in accordance with the price sheet:
Guarantees of origin (GOO) have the energy source, the place and time of generation. The remuneration of GOO is a voluntary benefit provided by Primeo Energie. And operators of photovoltaic systems that feed electricity into the Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) grid are likewise not obliged to sell guarantees of origin for the electricity they generate from solar power to Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG). The acceptance and remuneration for the energy and that of guarantees of origin are independent of each other.
Remuneration for guarantees of origin
Remuneration for guarantees of origin starts in the calendar month after the documents relevant to the payment have been submitted. These are: 1) Certification (activation of the system for issuing GOO) and 2) confirmation by Pronovo that the standing order entered online for the GOO has been set up for Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG). Guarantees of origin are accepted only if the active energy is fed into our grids and remunerated.
In principle, yes, the producer and the grid operator are free to agree on the amount of the return delivery fee. However, in case of disagreement, minimum legal requirements apply. In accordance with the Energy Act, remuneration for fed-in energy from renewable sources and biogas is based on the amount in costs the grid operator forgoes when procuring equivalent electricity. For electricity from a partially or wholly fossil-fuel combined heat and power (CHP) source, the return delivery compensation is based on the spot market price at the time of feed-in to the grid (www.epexspot.com as a "day-ahead action" with the corresponding euro exchange rates). Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) regularly reviews the return delivery remuneration and adjusts it in case of any changes.
As an electricity supplier, we are obliged, in accordance with Art. 15 of the Energy Act, to purchase electricity from renewable energies in our own grid area and to pay appropriate remuneration, unless the electricity is sold directly. Our prices comply with regulatory requirements and do not include any procurement costs for the recalculation. We regularly review the remuneration rate and adjust it to reflect possible changes. As a producer, you can also sell your fed-in electricity to customers other than your distribution system operator. This applies to active energy and to guarantees of origin. To this end, you must comply with the respective requirements of the electricity market (metering, balance group contracts, changeover processes, etc.) and ensure that appropriate buyers are provided. If you have entered into an acceptance contract with a fixed term, you can change the buyer only after the contract has ended.
The amortisation period indicates the point in time when operating your own photovoltaic system starts to pay off. For a typical photovoltaic system with an output of 10 kilowatt-peak (kWp), in other words, around 25 modules, this takes between 10 and 20 years. The amortisation period depends on the interaction of various factors, such as the share of own consumption, the energy supplier’s electricity tariff, any subsidies that may apply, and the return delivery remuneration for the electricity fed into the grid. Incidentally, the amortisation period of a photovoltaic system is often confused with its service life. In most cases, the service life of photovoltaic modules is much longer, around 30 to 40 years.
Yes, Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) is adjusting the return delivery compensation for the second time within a year. As of 1 January 2023, tariff customers will receive 20 centimes/kWh instead of 14.65 centimes/kWh. The tariffs apply for systems commissioned on or after 1 January 2017 and for older systems without special agreements. Remuneration for guarantees of origin remains unchanged.
The return delivery remuneration is reviewed regularly and adjusted in case of changes.
No, for most of Primeo Energie’s installations between 2014 and 2016 and all installations after 1 January 2017, the producers receive remuneration in accordance with our standard tariff for electricity from photovoltaic systems. Producers of older systems used to have individual contracts. After the end of the contract, the systems will be converted to the remuneration based on the standard tariff. You can find the price sheets that are currently valid here.
In the supply area of Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG), all producers receive the standard tariff based on the size of their system. You can find the price sheets that are currently valid here.
You can find the applicable remuneration rates on our homepage. Information about changes to the remuneration rates is provided in a media release.
If the power supply is interrupted, the photovoltaic system will also be affected. However, this depends on the configuration of the system.
A special inverter is required. The inverter is the centrepiece of a solar power system. A hybrid inverter is required for emergency power operation. This works both with electricity from the grid as well as in case of a power failure.
In addition to the hybrid inverter, a battery storage system is also important for emergency power operation. If the solar power system is unable to produce electricity due to bad weather or too little sun, the energy from the battery storage is used. How long the stored power lasts depends on your electricity consumption.
Important to know: Converting a normal photovoltaic system to emergency power supply mode is not exactly cheap. Additional costs of around CHF 10,000 to 15,000 can be expected.
Anyone who wants a photovoltaic system with an emergency power supply should mention this at the beginning of a consultation. This allows the PV system to be planned and ordered accordingly.
Information about battery storage can also be found here.
In principle yes, you do. You can ask the relevant tax authority directly how the feed-in remuneration for your photovoltaic system is to be taxed. Please refer to your canton’s instructions for completing your tax return.
Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) will gladly provide you with a tax statement for the energy fed into the grid for your tax return. Register on our myPrimeo customer portal and discover the portal together with a whole range of functions that will make your administrative work easier in future.
Frequently asked questions about guarantees of origin
Guarantees of origin (GOO) are certificates that are dissociated from the active energy fed in (physical current flow). The certificates are issued by Pronovo AG for the respective electricity producer and traded independently. Guarantees of origin are used to make the origin of electricity transparent to the end consumer. A guarantee of origin is issued for every kilowatt hour of electricity produced.
Guarantees of origin are also the ecological added value of the
active energy
Producers with systems between 2-30 kWp that have been certified can assign their guarantees of origin to Primeo Energie by means of a standing order. System certification is necessary for guarantees of origin of the energy the system generates. Primeo Energie does not accept guarantees of origin for systems of less than 2 kWp or more than 30 kWp. Please contact your solar engineer/installer directly in these cases.
A standing order for your guarantees of origin is voluntary. By placing a standing order with Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG), you will receive additional ecological value in addition to active energy. The active energy is paid out independently of a guarantee of origin standing order.
As soon as your system has been certified and meets the requirements, Primeo Energie/Aare Versorgungs AG (AVAG) will enter a standing order for guarantee of origin transmission in Pronovo AG’s guarantee of origin system. You will receive an email from Pronovo AG informing you that this standing order has been entered and you can confirm the standing order directly. Acceptance of this standing order is necessary so that you can receive the ecological added value. If you do not wish to do so, you can ignore the email and the previously entered standing order will be void.
Remuneration for ecological added value begins from the next calendar month, once your system has been certified and
the guarantee of origin standing order confirmed.
Pronovo AG is a subsidiary of Swissgrid and subject to supervision by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE) in connection with issuing guarantees of origin. It is the accredited certification body for issuing guarantees of origin.
