Are you looking for solar panels in Delémont? The capital of the canton of Jura combines an old town dominated by its castle, districts of apartment blocks and villas, and a territory open onto the Birse and Sorne valley. A solar installation is therefore assessed roof by roof, with constraints that change depending on where the building stands.
On this page you will find the types of installation, what the location changes in practice, the steps to plan ahead and how to compare quotes from a solar installer in Delémont.
Photovoltaic or thermal: two products for the same roof in Delémont
“Solar panels” covers two different technologies. Photovoltaic panels turn light into electricity, which you use on site or which is fed back into the grid. Thermal collectors, on the other hand, heat the water in a tank and serve domestic hot water, sometimes as a supplement to heating.
For a villa in Delémont’s residential districts, photovoltaic is often the first option: the roof is clear, access is simple and the household’s consumption is known. For a rental building, the question is more collective: who benefits from the electricity produced, how is it shared between the flats and who bears the investment? These points should be raised at the first conversation with the installer.
Both technologies can coexist on the same roof if the surface allows, but they compete for the same space. A serious professional will show you a layout plan and explain what they favour, and why.
What Delémont changes for a solar installation
Old town, castle and protected buildings
Delémont’s old town is among the old towns listed as sensitive areas in the canton, along with those of Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne. The roofs are visible from the streets, the squares and the surroundings of the castle. For a protected building, or one located in a protected site, the simplified notification rule does not apply: a permit is required. This can affect the position of the modules, their colour, how they are integrated into the roof, and even whether the project is feasible at all.
If your property lies within this perimeter, do not request quotes before asking the municipality. You will avoid comparing offers that could never be carried out as they stand.
Sunshine: orientation and valley shadows
A roof’s potential cannot be guessed from the street. It depends on orientation and pitch, but also on cast shadows. In a valley like that of the Birse and the Sorne, the terrain, trees and neighbouring buildings can block part of the sky depending on the season. Ask the installer to study these shadows at roof height, not only on a plan.
Snow and cold winters
The canton of Jura has cold, snowy winters. The Franches-Montagnes, at altitude, are the most exposed; the Delémont valley is milder, but snow is part of daily life. For panels, this raises concrete questions:
- the strength of the roof structure and of the fixings under snow load;
- snow sliding off the roof onto a pavement, a terrace or an access route, which may call for snow guards;
- access to the modules for maintenance, without putting anyone at risk in winter.
An installation on the flat roof of an apartment block does not raise the same points as a pitched villa roof: have it set out in writing how these risks are handled.
Permit or notification: the rules to know
Under Art. 18a of the federal Spatial Planning Act (LAT), a solar installation sufficiently well adapted to a roof, in a building zone or an agricultural zone, generally requires only a notification and not a permit. The exception concerns cultural heritage properties and protected sites, where a permit is still required.
In the Jura, the building permit is issued by the municipality or by the canton depending on the scale of the project. The cantonal energy office handles energy matters and the cantonal subsidy programme. What applies to your specific roof, and in what order, should be checked with the municipality of Delémont or the relevant cantonal service: a general rule never replaces that confirmation.
Owner, co-ownership, tenant
- Villa owner: you decide, but inform your insurer and your grid operator before the work.
- Co-ownership: the roof is a common part. A decision of the owners’ meeting is generally needed, with a clear presentation of the project and how it is shared.
- Tenant: only the landlord can authorise and have an installation put on the roof. You can discuss it with them and pass on a request for quotes.
Financial support: Pronovo, canton and municipality
For photovoltaic systems, a one-off federal payment is made via Pronovo. Cantonal or municipal support is possible, with a subsidy programme run by the canton of Jura. Conditions, amounts and timetables change: consult the municipality and the cantonal energy office before starting the work, as some support must be applied for beforehand. Also ask the installer what they handle in these procedures and what remains your responsibility.
Preparing your request and comparing quotes
To receive comparable quotes, describe your situation precisely. A few details are enough:
- the type of building (villa, rental building, co-ownership) and its location in Delémont, stating whether you are in the old town;
- the type of roof: pitched or flat, covering material, general condition, any dormers or chimneys;
- your goal: electricity, hot water, or both;
- your usual consumption, if you know it, and your current heating method;
- the agreement of the owner or the co-ownership if you are not the sole decision-maker.
A useful quote details the equipment (type and number of modules, inverter, any storage), the fixing and snow management, the electrical connection, the procedures handled (notification or permit, payment application), restoration of the roof and maintenance. If an item is missing, ask for it before comparing.
The cost depends mainly on the size of the installation, the complexity of the roof, the scaffolding required, whether storage is included and the connection time. That is why no serious figure can be given without seeing the building. To start the process, you can request a quote: your request is passed on to tradespeople and firms in the region, who will contact you for a free, no-obligation quote.
Useful pages around Delémont
- The trade: solar panels
- The town: works in Delémont
- The canton: canton of Jura
- In the same municipality: windows and double glazing in Delémont, heat pump in Delémont, kitchen renovation in Delémont
Updated 29 October 2026