The Swiss Federal Council has rejected the proposal to mandate solar installations on all suitable buildings, citing concerns over infringement on private property rights
Switzerland already requires solar installations on buildings with roof or facade surfaces above 300 m² under the Energy Act
The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications will submit a report on the Solar Initiative to the Federal Council in December 2026
The Swiss Federal Council has rejected the proposal to mandate solar installations for all suitable building surfaces in the country, saying the Solar Initiative (For a secure supply of renewable energy) infringes on private property rights of the citizens.
The Green Party had reportedly proposed the initiative on December 10, 2025 to make it mandatory for all suitable buildings and facilities to install solar panels. If it had been cleared by the council, it would have given up to 15 years for existing buildings to install solar panels. For the new or renovated buildings, the deadline would have been a year after the initiative took effect.
However, the council has rejected the initiative without proposing a counter-proposal. It explains that while there is a need to significantly expand domestic electricity production, clearing the proposal will infringe on property rights while also creating problems with regard to the division of responsibilities between the federal government and cantons.
It could also lead to implementation challenges such as the need for more workers, investment in electricity grid upgrades, and more energy storage.
Switzerland has already mandated solar panel installation on the rooftops or building facades of more than 300 m² surface area under the Energy Act, according to the Federal Council. It has been in place since January 1, 2025. Existing rules under the Model Energy Regulations for Cantons (MoPEC 2025) also achieves the purpose since it mandates solar generation for new buildings as well as for those undertaking renovations.
The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) will submit its report on the Solar Initiative to the Federal Council in December 2026.
Recently, the Federal Council said it will implement amendments to the Energy Act from April 1,2 026, to accelerate the deployment of large-scale solar, wind and hydropower projects (see Switzerland To Accelerate RE Projects Of National Interest).
