What Is a solar community and How to Get Started
Since 2025, Swiss property owners can share solar power with neighbors through virtual self-consumption communities. No cables between buildings — the grid operator handles everything through smart metering.
What is a solar community?
A solar community (virtueller Zusammenschluss zum Eigenverbrauch, vZEV) is a virtual community where multiple properties share locally produced solar electricity. Smart meters at each consumption point (apartments, offices, buildings) measure electricity flows and combine them into a virtual metering point. The distribution is calculated in 15-minute intervals — precisely determining how much electricity comes from PV systems within the solar community and how much was drawn from or fed back into the grid. Unlike a traditional ZEV, which requires all participants to be on the same plot of land with physical connections, a solar community allows sharing solar power across connection lines — no private cables needed.
Solar community vs. Traditional ZEV
ZEV (since 2018): All participants must be on the same parcel. Requires physical electrical connections between units. Typically one building with multiple apartments.
Solar community (since 2025): Participants can be on different parcels in the same grid area. No physical connections needed — allocation is virtual. Can span multiple buildings across a neighborhood.
Benefits of a solar community
- Higher self-consumption — use more of your solar power locally instead of feeding it back to the grid at low rates
- Lower costs — members buy solar electricity cheaper than grid power
- No infrastructure — no cables or construction needed between buildings
- Simple allocation — smart meters ensure each member pays only for what they actually consume
- Environmental impact — keep renewable energy local and reduce grid dependence
Who Can Participate?
Any property in the grid area can join a solar community. You need at least one solar installation (PV system) in the community. Both residential and commercial properties can participate. Tenants are included through their property owner. The key requirement is geographical proximity within the same distribution grid area. the grid operator provides an interactive map on their website where you can check which neighboring properties are eligible to join your solar community.
Check the grid operator's eligibility map →Prerequisites
Before a solar community can be formed, the following requirements must be met:
Technical: The PV system and all participants must be connected at the same junction point (Verknüpfungspunkt). The PV capacity must be at least 10% of the total connection capacity of all participants. The PV system must already be operational — you cannot apply during construction. Smart meters are required; the grid operator installs them within 3 months of approval.
Organizational: A contact person must be designated to represent the solar community to the grid operator. The billing process must be defined — optionally with a service provider. The application must be submitted at least 3 months in advance.
Legal: All participating parties must confirm their participation digitally in the energy portal.
6 Steps to Your Solar Community
1Check Prerequisites
Verify that the network topology requirements are met. Use the grid operator's eligibility map to check which neighbors can form a solar community with you. Buildings at the same junction point with the same color and label on the map are potential partners. Full overview of all 6 steps at www.bkw.ch.
2Register in the energy portal
Register at vzev.bkw.ch to start your application. As a producer, consumer, or service provider, you can register the solar community directly — unlike with a traditional ZEV, usually no electrician is needed.
3Open Your Application
Define participants using their meter or metering point numbers (found on electricity invoices or at the meter box). Enter the property owners with name, address, and email. Submit ownership proofs for all participating properties and PV systems. An automatic preliminary check immediately indicates whether topological requirements are likely met.
4Confirm Participation
All registered property owners automatically receive an email invitation to join the solar community. They confirm their participation digitally in the portal. Once all confirmations are in, you can submit your solar community application.
5Grid Operator Review
The grid operator reviews your application for completeness and verifies that all technical, organizational, and legal requirements are met. After the review, the grid operator confirms or rejects the solar community.
6Activate Your Solar Community
If any participants still need smart meters, the grid operator installs them within three months. Once all meters are in place, the solar community is activated and the grid operator begins tracking your community's energy flows. You can then download measurement data as CSV files from the portal.
Costs and Billing
Setup: No initial costs from the grid operator. Smart meters are installed at the grid operator's expense. From 2026, a monthly metering fee applies per smart meter and virtual metering point.
Internal billing: The solar community determines its own internal cost allocation within the legal framework. the grid operator provides 15-minute measurement data free of charge via the portal in CSV or EBIX format. Self-consumed solar energy is exempt from grid fees, KEV surcharge, SDL, and strategic reserve charges.
Already have a solar community?
If your community is up and running, Jouli helps you generate simple, transparent invoices for every member.