Solarspar

What Solarspar does

Solarspar is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein Solarspar) headquartered in Aarau, founded in 1991 and governed by a 6-member board with a 3-person office led by Managing Director Josua Stoffel. The organization operates as a solar energy cooperative with over 10,000 members, financed primarily through membership dues (minimum CHF 50/year), Partizipationsscheine (participation certificates in its operating subsidiary Solarspar Betriebs-AG, minimum CHF 1,000, 5-year lock-up), donations, and operating cash flow from its installed base.

The company's core offering is photovoltaic (PV) contracting: Solarspar plans, finances, builds, and operates rooftop PV installations on commercial, agricultural, residential, and public-sector buildings across Switzerland, with customers consuming solar electricity from their own roofs or receiving annual roof rent, both without upfront capital outlay. The installed fleet comprises approximately 120 PV plants totaling 12 MW of capacity, generating around 11 GWh per year across roughly 73,000 m² of module area and supplying approximately 3,000 households. Notable deployments include the Opernhaus Zürich Kügelloo building (2,660 bifacial modules, ~880 kWp), Holcim AG's quarry in Brunnen, a 185-apartment residential block in Basel operating as a ZEV collective self-consumption scheme, and the alpine bifacial PV pilot at Valser Mineralquellen (1,252 m altitude) developed jointly with ZHAW. Distinctive technical work centers on bifacial modules in vertical east-west orientation with albedo-enhancing underlayers for Swiss alpine conditions, and on combined PV-green roof systems, both developed in a research partnership with ZHAW since 2012.

Beyond domestic contracting, Solarspar runs international development projects across 28 countries in partnership with organizations such as Ades Solaire (Madagascar), Solafrica (Burkina Faso/Niger/Togo), Bulan Institute (Kyrgyzstan), WirzSolar (Ecuador/Haiti/Dominican Republic), and Ukraine2Power. It also operates a small e-commerce storefront selling solar consumer products (Sonnenglas lantern, solar alarm clocks, women's solar watches, climate-themed books) shipping only within Switzerland, and publishes a quarterly Solarspar-Magazin distributed to all members. The corporate structure comprises Verein Solarspar (the association), Solarspar AG (holding company), and the wholly-owned Solarspar Betriebs-AG (operating subsidiary that holds PV assets and issues Partizipationsscheine).

Name

Solarspar

Legal name

Verein Solarspar

Website

https://solarspar.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Solarspar is a Swiss non-profit association (Verein) that finances, builds, and operates rooftop photovoltaic systems on commercial, agricultural, residential, and public buildings across Switzerland via a contracting model, while funding solar projects in 28 developing countries and serving over 10,000 members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Energy Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114), Roofing Contractors (23816)

SIC

Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar Financing, Leasing & Ownership Platforms (Tax Equity, PPA, Securitization) (EUAMABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB), Renewable Distributed Generation (Rooftop/Onsite Solar, Small Wind, Small Hydro) (EUACALAJ)

Keywords

• Solar contracting
• Photovoltaic installations
• Rooftop solar financing
• Renewable energy association
• Solar electricity sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Aarau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Solar Electricity Sales (from PV Plants): Solarspar operates over 100 PV installations across Switzerland generating electricity sold to building owners and occupants via contracting agreements. Customers consume solar electricity produced on their rooftops at attractive rates. Excess electricity is sold to local utilities. Solarspar also sells solar electricity directly to consumers who wish to purchase Swiss solar power (CHF 0.03/kWh), independent of their local utility.
2. Membership Fees: Solarspar operates as a non-profit association (Verein) with over 10,000 members. Members pay an annual fee of at least CHF 50/year, granting them voting rights at the General Assembly, a quarterly Solarspar-Magazin, free energy consulting, and preferential access to solar electricity purchases.
3. Partizipationsscheine (Participation Certificates): Solarspar raises equity capital through the sale of participation certificates (staple share-like instruments) of the Solarspar Betriebs-AG. Investors (primarily members and socially-motivated individuals) invest a minimum of CHF 1,000 (in CHF 1,000 increments) for a minimum 5-year term. Returns are 0.5–3% annually, tied to the Swiss National Bank interest rate plus a 0.5% spread. Capital is used to build new PV installations.
4. Donations and Grants for International Projects: Solarspar receives donations and charitable contributions to fund international solar projects in developing countries. Donors contribute to specific international projects (e.g., solar training in Kyrgyzstan, solar pumps in Latin America, health center PV in Africa, Ukraine hospital PV). Solarspar also applies for and receives grants from organizations (e.g., OSCE support for Bulan Institute training project).
5. Online Shop (Solar Consumer Products): Solarspar operates an e-commerce shop selling solar-powered consumer products including the Sonnenglas solar lantern (CHF 32–35), solar radio alarm clock (CHF 45), solar-powered women's watches (CHF 299), and books on solar topics (CHF 18–34). Shipping is only available within Switzerland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Solarspar is a Swiss non-profit association that plans, builds, finances, and operates rooftop photovoltaic (PV) installations on commercial, agricultural, residential, and public buildings across Switzerland under a solar contracting model in which customers receive solar electricity at attractive rates without any upfront investment. Beyond contracting, the organization sells Swiss solar electricity directly to consumers, issues participation certificates (Partizipationsscheine) to finance new PV plants, funds international solar projects in developing countries, and conducts applied research on alpine PV and PV-green roof integration with ZHAW.

Product overview

Solarspar is a non-profit association (Verein) with over 10,000 members founded in 1991, focused on promoting renewable energy and climate protection in Switzerland. The core offering is photovoltaic contracting services: Solarspar plans, builds, finances, and operates PV systems on buildings, allowing customers to receive solar electricity without their own investment. The company offers related financial products (Partizipationsscheine investment certificates, solar electricity purchase plans) and publishes a quarterly Solarspar-Magazin. Solarspar also conducts research on alpine PV and combined PV-green roofs with ZHAW university, and implements international solar projects in developing countries. The online shop sells solar consumer products including the Sonnenglas® lantern, solar watches, and climate-themed books.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Photovoltaik-Contracting Solarspar plans, builds, finances, and operates rooftop photovoltaic systems on commercial, residential, public, and agricultural buildings in Switzerland. Customers receive solar electricity at attractive rates without any upfront investment and may purchase the installation at residual value.
• Solarstrom-Bezug (Swiss solar electricity purchase) Swiss households and small businesses can purchase Swiss-produced solar electricity directly from Solarspar regardless of their local utility, choosing from tiered kWh packages (1,600 to 7,500 kWh) or custom quantities, billed on top of their regular electricity supply.
• Partizipationsscheine (participation certificates) Non-voting participation certificates in Solarspar Betriebs-AG starting at CHF 1,000 that fund new Swiss PV installations. Annual return 0.5%–3% (SNB base rate + 0.5%), minimum 5-year term, auto-renewed for 2-year periods, no custody or transaction fees, with priority redemption rights over common shareholders.
• Sonnenglas solar lantern (Mini and Standard) Solar-powered LED lantern with integrated solar cells in the lid that charge during the day and provide light at night, with USB-C charging backup for winter months. Available in Mini (11 cm) and Standard (18 cm) sizes, sold to Swiss consumers via the Solarspar online shop.
• Solarfunkwecker (radio-controlled solar alarm clock) Radio-controlled solar alarm clock with DCF time signal, weekday and date display, snooze alarm, indoor temperature measurement (0–50°C), and backlit display, sold to Swiss consumers via the Solarspar online shop at CHF 45.
• Solararmbanduhr Damen (women's solar watch) Women's solar watch with vegan apple-leather strap, steel case and sapphire crystal, Solarspar logo engraving, date display, 3ATM water resistance, and Swiss-made movement. Available in gold-yellow, rose-gold, and black, sold via the Solarspar online shop at CHF 299.
• Buch 'Grüne Dächer!' (book) Project atlas documenting 16 flat roofs across Switzerland that combine sustainable urban planning, biodiversity, and solar integration, based on ZHAW research. Sold via the Solarspar online shop at CHF 34.
• Buch 'Globi bei der Müllabfuhr' (children's book) Children's book about waste management and recycling featuring the Swiss cartoon character Globi, sold to Swiss consumers via the Solarspar online shop at CHF 18.
• Buch 'Als die Schweiz ins Schwitzen kam' (book) Book about the Swiss KlimaSeniorinnen case at the European Court of Human Rights, written by Elisabeth Stern, Cordelia Bähr, and Brigitte Hürlimann, sold via the Solarspar online shop at CHF 21.
• Internationale Projekte (international solar development projects) Solarspar funds, provides technical expertise, and supports project management for solar installations (healthcare facilities, schools, water pumping, solar training) in developing countries, implemented in partnership with established development organizations and local institutions across 28 countries.
• Forschungsprojekte (PV research projects with ZHAW) Applied research program conducted jointly with ZHAW since 2012 covering alpine PV systems and combined PV-green roof installations, developing innovations in bifacial modules, water retention, plant-module coexistence, and optimal plant selection.

Quantifiable outcome

• CHF 30 million invested in Swiss PV plants; 120 installed plants; 12 MW total capacity; 11 GWh/year production; ~3,000 households supplied; 1,400 t CO₂ saved per year; 100 GWh cumulative production since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Ukraine2Power (U2P)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Ukraine2Power (Ukrainian NGO founded 2022 by Thomas Gnefkow and Nataliia Fiebrig) implements solar projects for critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Solarspar provides technical and professional support for U2P's first PV installation — a solar system on a hospital in Roschnjatiw, western Ukraine (~50,000 kWh/year). Solarspar helps evaluate vertical module mounting suitable for snowy conditions, transfers know-how, and connects U2P to Swiss expertise. Andreas Dreisiebner of Solarspar initiated the partnership at a UNECE Energy Week conference.
• Bulan Institute for Peace InnovationsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Bulan Institute for Peace Innovations (Geneva-based non-profit founded 2017) partners with Solarspar on the 'Solar Skills Development Project' in Kyrgyzstan. Solarspar provides financial contributions enabling the purchase of computers, office equipment, monitoring systems, and training materials (modules, inverters, batteries, safety equipment). The Bulan Institute coordinates with the State Technical University in Bishkek and the OSCE to deliver 8-day solar skills training courses for approximately 24 energy specialists per cohort, with Solarspar's support making practical hands-on exercises possible.
• SolafricamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Solafrica (Bern-based Swiss NPO founded 2009) runs the Santé Solaire project electrifying rural health centers in Burkina Faso, Niger, and Togo with PV systems. Solarspar supports the project with annual contributions of CHF 30,000 for 2024–2026. Solafrica handles on-the-ground implementation, installation, and training; Solarspar provides funding and, by extension, the legitimacy of a Swiss solar specialist organization. Solafrica has received the Swiss Solar Prize 2021 and European Solar Prize 2021/2022.
• Fredy Wirz / WirzSolar GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Fredy Wirz, a Swiss geologist (NADEL/ETH Zürich graduate), develops solar pumping systems for sustainable water supply in Ecuador, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. Solarspar supports his work with an annual contribution of CHF 20,000 (in 2024). Wirz operates through his company WirzSolar GmbH and partners with local cooperatives (e.g., Banelino in Dominican Republic, FOI in Haiti) to deploy Sunlight solar pumps that pay back within 2 years and last 10 years.
• ZHAW (Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Solarspar has partnered with ZHAW (Zurich University of Applied Sciences) since 2012 for joint research on combining photovoltaic installations with green roofs (PV-Gründächer) and on alpine PV systems. The collaboration has produced pilot installations at Winterthur (2012, 2015) and Arosa, advancing bifacial module applications, water retention systems, and optimal plant-module coexistence. ZHAW researchers provide scientific rigor; Solarspar provides real-world installation sites and practical expertise.
• Ades SolairemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Ades Solaire (Swiss NGO active in Madagascar since 2001) partnered with Solarspar over 15 years to equip schools with energy-efficient solar cookers and solar-powered water treatment systems. Solarspar provided regular donations culminating in a CHF 25,000 contribution for the final 9 of 25 school kitchens in southern Madagascar (completed 2023). The project provided warm meals for 400 children and reduced firewood consumption by up to 66%.
• Holcim AGminorOthersHolcim Switzerland operates a quarry in Brunnen (Canton Schwyz) where Solarspar installed a PV system on the quarry's rooftops. The installation produces 130,000 kWh/year, covering approximately 10% of the energy-intensive quarry's electricity needs. This is a contracting customer relationship where Solarspar financed, built, and operates the plant.
• Solarspar Betriebs-AGcoreOthersThe Solarspar Betriebs-AG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Solarspar association. It holds and manages all PV installations, receives all operating revenue from electricity sales, and is the issuer of the Partizipationsscheine (participation certificates). The Solarspar AG (holding company) owns 100% of the Solarspar Betriebs-AG shares. This is an internal corporate structure entity.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunrun: Sunrun is the largest US residential solar leasing and PPA company, owning and operating rooftop PV systems while customers buy the electricity. It is a broad incumbent analogue to Solarspar's third-party-owned rooftop solar contracting business model at much larger scale.
• BKW Energie: BKW is a large Swiss energy company with significant solar, hydro, and grid operations. It competes with Solarspar for commercial rooftop projects in Switzerland and is a broad incumbent with substantially greater capital and operational scale.
• SolarCentury: SolarCentury (now part of Statkraft) is a UK-based solar developer and EPC contractor serving commercial and residential customers. It is comparable as a broader solar EPC operator with project-financing capability overlapping Solarspar's contracting model.
• Axpo: Axpo is one of Switzerland's largest energy producers with growing solar and distributed generation offerings. It is comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for Swiss solar customers with greater financial and operational resources than Solarspar.

Regional players

• EWZ (Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich): EWZ is the municipal utility of Zurich, operating solar generation and supply in the Zurich region. It is comparable to Solarspar as a regional player delivering solar generation and supply to Swiss customers, but at a much larger municipal scale.
• Helion Energy: Helion Energy is a Swiss solar EPC and project developer active in commercial and residential rooftop PV. It is a regional competitor to Solarspar's contracting business in the Swiss market.

Others

• Enphase Energy: Enphase is a major global supplier of solar microinverters, batteries, and energy management systems. It is a key enabling technology provider for the rooftop PV installations that Solarspar builds and operates, rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Ecopower: Ecopower is a Belgian cooperative that finances, builds, and operates renewable energy installations and sells the output to its member-investors. It directly mirrors Solarspar's combination of cooperative governance, citizen-financed renewable assets, and member electricity purchase model.
• EWS Schönau: EWS Schönau is a German citizen-owned energy cooperative that operates renewable generation (including solar) and supplies members with green electricity. It is the closest European analogue to Solarspar's cooperative contracting/community model, with member capital funding generation assets and customers buying the electricity.
• Greenpeace Energy: Greenpeace Energy is a German cooperative energy supplier that invests in renewable generation and offers members green electricity contracts. It is comparable to Solarspar on the cooperative structure, mission-driven brand, and member-funded renewable generation model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solarspar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Solarspar