SolarFree or SolarDirect? Choosing the right model for your Swiss home
"Should I buy the solar system or lease it?" is the question we hear most. The honest answer is: it depends on your liquidity, your time horizon and how much of the operator role you want to take on yourself. This article runs the numbers for both models on the same example house.
The baseline: 10 kWp on a Swiss single-family home
- Roof area ~50 m², south or south-west, 30° tilt
- Annual yield: ~10,000 kWh (1,000 kWh/kWp)
- Household: 4 people, 4,500 kWh/year plus a heat pump
- 2026 tariffs: ~30 Rp./kWh retail, 6–12 Rp./kWh feed-in
SolarDirect: you own the system
The classic approach, the installation belongs to you.
- Investment: CHF 25,000, 28,000 (modules, inverter, mounting, AC/DC work)
- Less one-off subsidy (KLEIV): about CHF 3,600 (360.–/kWp)
- Less tax deduction: 15–25 % of the net investment, since it counts as building maintenance
- Effective net cost: CHF 16,000, 19,000
At 10,000 kWh/year, 35 % self-consumption and current tariffs the annual financial benefit (savings + feed-in) is CHF 1,500, 1,900. Payback: 9, 12 years, leaving around 15 years of virtually free power before the first major service.
Watch out for:
- Inverter replacement after 12–15 years (CHF 2,000–3,000)
- You carry the risk for out-of-warranty failures
- Insurance is handled through your building policy
SolarFree: you use it, we operate it
In the SolarFree model, Free State AG installs the system on your roof and operates it for 35 years. You pay nothing upfront, only a fixed per-kWh tariff, typically 20–40 % below your local retail price.
- Upfront cost: CHF 0
- Power price: fixed and predictable for 35 years
- Maintenance, monitoring, insurance, repairs: included
- Buyback option: take ownership any time at transparent terms
- Sale of the property: the contract transfers, the system stays an asset, not a headache
Over 35 years the household saves CHF 30,000, 50,000, with no capital tied up. The difference to SolarDirect is simple: instead of an asset you buy cost certainty.
Side by side
| SolarDirect | SolarFree | |
|---|---|---|
| Capital outlay | CHF 16,000, 19,000 net | CHF 0 |
| Power-price risk | On you | Fixed for 35 years |
| Maintenance & repairs | Your responsibility | Included |
| Payback | 9, 12 years | N/A (no capital tied up) |
| Flexibility on sale | System transfers | Contract transfers |
| Swiss tax treatment | Deductible in the investment year | Consumption-based, no deduction |
When does which model win?
SolarDirect works well if …
- You have the capital and prefer to invest it in your property over ETFs
- You can use the tax deduction in the year of investment
- You enjoy owning the kit and watching the monitoring yourself
SolarFree fits if …
- You prefer predictable electricity costs over a construction project
- A renovation or relocation within 5–10 years is possible
- You would rather not think about inverter swaps and warranty claims
Our recommendation
Before you decide, get the specific numbers for your property. Our solar calculator gives you a yield estimate in a few minutes, based on Sonnendach.ch data and your consumption profile.
Try the solar calculator → or book a consultation.
Example calculations use typical Swiss market values as of April 2026. Actual figures depend on location and consumption.