On 26 November, the Swiss Federal Council approved partial revisions to the Energy Ordinance and the Energy Promotion Ordinance. These revisions include interim targets for expanding renewable electricity production in Switzerland by 2030, as well as the introduction of a winter electricity bonus for large photovoltaic systems. This bonus will apply to new large photovoltaic systems with a capacity of 100 kW or more that come into operation on or after 1 January 2026. It will replace the altitude bonus that has been in effect since 2023. The Energy Promotion Ordinance will regulate how the winter electricity bonus is calculated in the various promotion instruments, such as one-time remuneration, sliding market premiums and auctions.
Rather than specifying a fixed value, the bonus is calculated »depending on the specific winter electricity yield minus a minimum specific winter electricity yield of 500 kWh/kW«, as stated in the »Report on the November 2025 Revision of the Energy Promotion Ordinance«. This calculation method is intended to ensure that only plants with a significantly higher specific winter electricity yield than the average Swiss Plateau plant (typical values are between 250 and 300 kWh/kW) benefit from the winter electricity bonus. To take into account annually fluctuating meteorological conditions, the winter electricity bonus is calculated as part of the one-off remuneration based on the specific winter electricity yield averaged over three winter halves. It is granted for systems with and without own consumption.
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