Glossary
Self-consumption
Also known as: Eigenverbrauch, Self-consumption, Self-consumption ratio, Eigenverbrauchsquote
Eigenverbrauch is the Swiss term for self-consumption: the share of solar electricity a business uses directly on site instead of feeding it into the grid. It is the central value driver of a PV system, because self-consumed electricity replaces grid purchases at 20 to 35 Rp./kWh while feed-in earns only 5 to 12 Rp./kWh. Unoptimised systems reach 30 to 40 percent; with battery storage and a ZEV, 70 to 90 percent is achievable.
What does the law say about self-consumption?
Art. 16 of the Energy Act gives operators of a production plant the right to consume all or part of the electricity generated at the place of production themselves; Art. 17 and 18 allow several parties to join together (EnG, SR 730.0, Fedlex). Self-consumed electricity does not flow through the public grid and therefore carries neither grid usage fee nor grid surcharge and levies. This is exactly where the economic value comes from: the site saves the full purchase tariff, not just the energy component.
The difference is considerable. Commercial customers in ElCom category C4 pay a median total tariff of 23.66 Rp./kWh in 2026, of which 11.28 Rp. is for energy (ElCom electricity price overview). For the surplus, by contrast, large systems receive only the reference market price, and from 2027 the hourly spot price.
How high is self-consumption typically?
The ratio depends on the load profile. Office buildings with consumption in the evening and at weekends reach 20 to 40 percent, manufacturing businesses with a day shift 60 to 70 percent, three-shift operations more: the BACHMANN GROUP, with 2’809 kWp and round-the-clock packaging production, consumes 96 percent of its solar electricity itself (Ampere Dynamic project data). With storage and a ZEV, 70 to 90 percent is achievable (analysis of realised Ampere Dynamic projects).
How do you raise self-consumption?
Four levers raise the ratio: battery storage shifts solar electricity into the evening and night hours, load shifting moves flexible consumers such as refrigeration plants, charging stations and heat pumps into the midday peak, an energy management system coordinates both automatically, and a ZEV extends the circle of consumers beyond your own operation. The order is not arbitrary: load shifting costs almost nothing, the battery the most; it pays off when it also provides peak shaving.
How the four levers work together: Self-consumption from 30 to 90 percent. For manufacturing businesses in particular: Photovoltaics for industry.