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If you want to install solar panels yourself, you have to wait up to two years. Online courses should now remedy the situation.
All over the country, solar experts are at the limit. Even if you want to install a photovoltaic system on your roof yourself, you need a lot of patience. The Bern DIY cooperative alone has 400 solar projects on the waiting list.
Putin’s war of aggression and the resulting high electricity prices are driving homeowners in droves to turn to solar energy: “Anyone who orders a solar system today will not receive an offer until 2025,” says Syril Eberhart, founder of the energy transition cooperative.
This is how amateurs can build their solar power plant
Ten years ago, the solar pioneer launched Switzerland’s first self-build solar cooperative. The highlight: members of the cooperative help each other to install the photovoltaic system on their houses. The cooperative provides the know-how, carries out the planning, obtains permits and takes care of purchasing the materials.
Solar amateurs can tackle this and create their own solar power plant with their own hands. “Even a philosophy professor took part with us. It requires practically no prior knowledge,” says the electrical engineer.
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Wants more solar systems on the roofs: Syril Eberhart, founder of the energy transition cooperative.
SRF/Adrian Müller
The hands-on principle pushes the price down. Do-it-yourself solar systems are up to a third cheaper. Instead of 15,000 francs, a small system for a house only costs 10,000 francs. “Our goal and our motivation is that everyone can afford a solar system,” says the 34-year-old from Hondrich ob Spiez BE.
Our motivation is that everyone can afford a solar system.
In the meantime, 13 do-it-yourself cooperatives have emerged from the one-man project in Switzerland. They have implemented 1,500 solar projects to date. There is no shortage of volunteers in the cooperatives. As with most solar companies, however, there is a lack of specialist personnel to take on the planning and construction management.
Online course to cushion solar rush
That’s why Eberhart is working hard to train solar experts and organizes courses in Bern and Olten. Because these are experiencing a large rush, the electrical engineer has set up an online course. 40 lessons and 11 hours of video instructions are intended to convey the basic solar knowledge. “Interest in solar technology is exploding,” he says. Most of the course participants are people who want to build a PV system themselves, says Eberhart.
However, self-construction of solar systems remains a niche in Switzerland. According to the industry association Swissolar, there are no official statistics.
Solar DIY is a niche in Switzerland
According to estimates by the cooperatives, the self-assembled systems have a market share of around one percent of the entire solar business in Switzerland.
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The largest self-construction system that has been realized is the solar panels on the industrial park in Hasle near Burgdorf.
zvg
Conventional solar construction companies continue to build the majority of them. However, self-builders are important ambassadors for solar energy. “In Switzerland, the energy transition must come from the citizens. Because in this country there are no large open spaces, such as Germany. We have to implement solar systems in existing settlements,” says Walter Sachs, President of the Association for Solar Energy SSES.
The solar do-it-yourselfers around Syril Eberhart are doing everything to ensure that solar energy continues to grow in Switzerland. In 2023 he wants to realize 300 projects with his cooperative. That’s a good three times as many as two years ago.