sustainable energy project
The ewz subsidy programme supports the following measures and processes applications through the city of Zurich’s digital energy subsidy programme:
- Photovoltaic systems
- Thermal solar collector systems
- Heat pump facilities
- Connections to district heating networks
- Charging infrastructure for electric vehicles
- Electricity-saving measures
- Analysis of potential electricity savings
- Research and development work on the rational generation and use of electricity and the substitution of fossil fuel sources
- Education and awareness-raising
- Compensation for gas appliances
Private individuals, companies and institutions that implement a measure in the ewz supply area are eligible for subsidies. The supply area includes the city of Zurich and selected localities in the canton of the Grisons.
- Domleschg:
Almens, Feldis, Fürstenau, Fürstenaubruck, Paspels, Pratval, Rodels, Rothenbrunnen, Scharans, Scheid, Trans, Tumegl/Tomils - Heinzenberg:
Cazis, Dalin, Flerden, Masein, Portein, Präz, Sarn, Summaprada, Tartar, Tschappina, Urmein - Rheintal:
Says, Trimmis, Untervaz - Albulatal:
Lantsch/Lenz, Mutten - Oberhalbstein:
Bivio, Cunter, Marmorera, Mulegns, Parsonz, Riom, Rona, Salouf, Savognin, Sur, Tinizong - Rheinwald:
Medels, Nufenen - Bregaglia:
Bondo, Borgonovo, Casaccia, Castasegna, Maloja, Promontogno, Stampa, Soglio, Vicosoprano
The amount of the subsidy depends on the measure and the size of the project. The subsidy calculator provides you with an initial, non-binding estimate of the maximum rate (the maximum possible amount of all subsidies).
In order to receive the maximum possible subsidies, applicants must submit their application to different bodies. Subsidies from ewz are always supplementary to cantonal and federal subsidies. This means that we deduct the cantonal and federal subsidies from the maximum possible subsidy amount for your project.
ewz is responsible for the entire subsidies process and uses the digital portal for the energy subsidy programme of the city of Zurich.
The total subsidy amounts to about one third of the investment costs and is paid out in one go after implementation. The aim of the subsidies is to enable more people and companies in Switzerland to afford projects to promote renewable energy.
The subsidies are a one-off payment per project.
There is no upper limit. This means that the larger the project, the higher the subsidy amount. However, a distinction must be made between the upper limit and the maximum rate: ewz sets a maximum possible subsidy for each energy project. This is called the maximum rate. This is the maximum amount that we will approve for the project. However, the maximum rate may consist of contributions from various bodies (national, cantonal, city, municipal and private subsidies). In some cases, applicants must submit their applications to several bodies in order to receive the maximum possible total amount (maximum rate). As the city of Zurich (ewz) provides supplementary subsidies for energy projects, we deduct all otherwise available subsidies from the maximum rate, even if you do not claim them.
If the cantonal or federal subsidies exceed our maximum rate, ewz will not provide a subsidy.
You must submit your application before construction commences
If you have already started implementing your energy project, you are not eligible for subsidies. You must submit the signed application to ewz before the start of construction of your project. It is therefore essential to wait for us to confirm receipt of your application in writing before starting the construction work.
The start of construction is deemed to be the date on which construction of the subsidised measures begins. The application for a building permit does not yet count as the start of construction.
Applicants must send the completed and handwritten application form with all required documents to foerderung@ewz.ch. As soon as our confirmation of receipt has been received, the application is deemed to have been submitted.
As the owner, grant power of attorney
The request must be signed by the owner. If someone else signs, we require a power of attorney. In the power of attorney, the owner grants the applicant permission to legally sign the application and the completion form.
Please sign the power of attorney and send the application to foerderung@ewz.ch.
Fill out the application form on the Energy subsidy programme portal, download it, sign it and email it to foerderung@ewz.ch before construction commences. You will receive an email confirmation of receipt within one to two working days. Wait until then to start construction or you will forfeit your eligibility.
ewz will review the application
The review of the application can take up to six weeks.
After the review, you will receive a decision from us as to whether your project qualifies for financial support. The decision will be sent to you by post. The subsidy decision is valid for a maximum of two years, after which it expires.
After the completion of your project, you must submit the completion documents. Enter the final data on the Energy subsidy programme portal, download the final form, sign it and submit it by email to foerderung@ewz.ch.
ewz reviews the completion documents
We will inform you of the final decision by email.
Following a positive decision, ewz releases the payout. If you receive subsidies from different sources, we will first have to wait for confirmation of their payments. The money will generally be credited to your account within 120 days of submitting the application form.
Yes. ewz supports sustainable energy projects on a supplementary basis. This means that we supplement the subsidy programmes of other bodies. Applicants must apply for additional national, cantonal, municipal and private subsidies from the relevant authorities in order to receive the maximum possible total amount (maximum rate). We deduct all other available subsidies from the maximum rate, even if you do not claim them.
No. Submissions to other subsidies bodies have nothing to do with us and are not considered a submission to ewz.
If all ewz subsidy criteria have been met, we will pay you the maximum possible subsidy amount (maximum rate).
If additional subsidies are available for the project, e.g. from the canton or the federal government, we automatically deduct these subsidies from the maximum possible total amount (maximum rate), regardless of whether the subsidies have been applied for or not. It is the responsibility of the applicant to claim the subsidies of other bodies in good time. If the applicant fails to do this, the subsidies from other bodies will still be deducted from the maximum possible total amount.
An application can be submitted if the following conditions are met:
- A plot of land, and
- A house connection point, and
- One owner of the installation, and
- One project (simultaneous start of construction).
If one of the above conditions is not met, it is possible to submit more than one application.
In the case of a PV installation, the installation of the inverter and the assembly of the substructure/modules count as the start of construction.
Yes. After the installation of the photovoltaic system, applicants must submit an additional application to Pronovo (www.pronovo.ch), the federal subsidy programme.
Yes. Installations that are greater than 2 kWp after deduction of the statutory minimum (10 W/m²) are eligible for subsidies.
In the case of air/water heat pumps, the installation of the heat pump counts as the start of construction. For brine/water heat pumps, the borehole for the geothermal probe or the installation of the heat pump counts as the start of construction.
We subsidise the replacement of fossil fuel-powered heating systems and the replacement of electric resistance heating systems with a heat pump in existing buildings. The replacement of an existing heat pump system or wood-fired heating system is not subsidised.
Yes. The subsidies supplement those of the canton of Zurich or the Grisons. These must be applied for independently.
Yes, as of 1 February 2025, the ban on active cooling in the AB VGL will be lifted.
From 1 February 2025, the test for an economical connection to thermal networks (district heating) will be lifted and technology-neutral subsidies will come into effect.
The existing gas or oil heating system has been in operation for less than 15 years.
The start of construction is deemed to be the installation of the heat transfer station or the start of installation of the heat distribution system.
No, we only fund the replacement of fossil fuel-powered heating systems and the replacement of electric resistance heating systems in existing buildings.
The existing gas or oil heating system has been in operation for less than 15 years.
If you need to replace your existing heating system and want to connect your property to a district heating network, but it won’t be possible to get connected for two years, you can use a temporary heating system to bridge the gap. You can apply for subsidies for this purpose.
The start of construction is deemed to be the installation of the heat transfer station or the start of installation of the heat distribution system.
If the switch to district heating ERZ takes longer than two years, you must submit an application for connections to temporary heating systems in order to apply for subsidies.
No, the residual value compensation does not apply because the switch is taking place to a fossil-fuel-powered heating system rather than a renewable solution.
The start of construction is deemed to be the start of the basic installation or the installation of the charging infrastructure.
No. We only subsidise basic infrastructure if a corresponding charging station is also installed. We do not subsidise basic infrastructure for new buildings. The basic conditions for subsidies can be found in the current implementation regulations.
The canton of Zurich also subsidises charging infrastructure. Applicants who are eligible for subsidies from the canton of Zurich must also submit a subsidy application on the canton of Zurich subsidy platform. Where the canton of Zurich no longer subsidises basic infrastructure, ewz provides subsidies.
- From 1 February 2025, all solar panel types
will have identical funding approaches. - Funding is possible if a property is/will be connected to a thermal network.
- Funding is now possible with monovalent heat pumps.
A funding application can only be submitted after the replacement of the gas appliance.
Entitlement to compensation expires 10 years after the end of the gas supply at the respective location.
Altstetten North, Altstetten East and Tiefenbrunnen. Information on whether your property is in a decommissioned area and is eligible for compensation can be found at: EnerGIS from the City of Zurich
If you have not yet started construction and want to switch to a renewable solution within the next two years, we recommend submitting an application for heat pumps/district heating.
Subsidies are provided by ewz as a public service on behalf of the City of Zurich, and for which ewz raises a surcharge on the grid usage fee in accordance with the Electricity Supply Act.
