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See all articlesVaud · 45 to 65 km from Rolle
Yverdon-les-Bains, Orbe, Échallens, Grandson, Chavornay — the Orbe plain and Gros-de-Vaud.
The Nord vaudois is one of the most dynamic areas in French-speaking Switzerland for solar energy: fast-growing residential housing between Yverdon and Gros-de-Vaud, and above all an exceptional density of farm buildings across the Orbe plain. These large barn and farm rooftops represent enormous, still largely untapped solar potential. From Rolle, we work here regularly — from the villas of Échallens to the farms of Orbe.
Service area
Local context
A more continental climate than the Lake Geneva arc: well-lit summers, but frequent fog and low stratus on the plain from October to February. Solar output of 950 to 1050 kWh/kWp — slightly below Lake Geneva but still very profitable. At altitude (Sainte-Croix, Vallorbe, foot of the Jura), winters are harsher: heat pumps are sized accordingly, sometimes with a geothermal solution.
The Orbe plain has a rare density of farm buildings — barns, sheds, drying lofts — with large, clear rooftops ideal for solar. Added to this are the fast-growing residential housing of Gros-de-Vaud (Échallens, Cossonay) and the historic centres of Yverdon, Orbe and Grandson, where discreet integration is required.
Grid operators are mainly Romande Energie, with municipal utilities in some towns (Yverdon-les-Bains). Typical connection times: 3 to 6 weeks. Good injection capacity across the plain.
I.ON advice
The barns and farms of the plain offer hundreds of m² of shade-free roof. A large agricultural installation (30-100 kWp) delivers an excellent ROI, especially when paired with the self-consumption of dryers, cold rooms and milking equipment.
Winter stratus reduces output from November to January. We offset this with optimal orientation and, for heavy consumers, by pairing the PV with a battery to smooth self-consumption across the year.
In Sainte-Croix, Vallorbe or L'Auberson, winter temperatures justify a reinforced air/water heat pump or geothermal system. Good sizing avoids excessive reliance on electric backup in deep cold.
2026 subsidies
Federal grant for any new PV installation: around 320-380 CHF/kWp for small systems (<30 kWp), paid once after commissioning. For an 8 kWp system: ~3,000 CHF.
The canton of Vaud pays a top-up to Pronovo for PV installations, plus heat pump grants via the Buildings Programme. Typical amounts 800-2,500 CHF per project, stackable with municipal grants.
The net cost after subsidies is deductible from taxable income as an energy investment. Typical tax saving 25-35% of the net amount depending on your marginal rate.
Exact amounts vary from year to year and depend on the specifics of each project. We always calculate the maximum combination of grants available when preparing your quote.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Yverdon-les-Bains, Orbe, Échallens and the whole Nord vaudois are part of our service area. At 45-65 km from our Rolle base, we regularly deliver residential and agricultural installations here, with no call-out charge for quotes.
Only marginally. Winter stratus reduces output from November to January, but most annual production happens from April to September, when sunshine is excellent. Over the year, expect 950 to 1050 kWh/kWp — solid profitability. Good sizing and, if needed, a battery more than make up for it.
Absolutely, and it is often one of the best investments. The large farm rooftops of the Orbe plain allow high-power installations with an excellent cost/output ratio. We handle the structural study, the grid connection and the agricultural subsidy paperwork.
Our services
Other regions we serve
Free quote
On-site visit, consumption analysis, detailed cost simulation. Full quote delivered within seven days. If your project is not technically or financially viable, we tell you straight.
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