Solar Panels For Your Home In Singapore: The Complete Guide

Install solar panels on your roof. Source: propertyguru.com.sg.

Electricity plays a key part in our everyday lives, and installing solar panels in your home is a great way to save money on your electricity bills. With the costs of non-renewable resources such as oil and gas rising, installing solar panels to capture the free sunlight seems like a great long term investment. Furthermore, solar energy, unlike oil and gas, is a renewable resource that gives off zero carbon emissions. This means you will be reducing your carbon footprint and saving the environment. In this comprehensive guide we will be discussing the feasibility of installing solar panels in your home as well as the process of solar panel installation.

Am I Allowed To Install Solar Panels On My Roof In Singapore?

If you live in a landed property, you will be allowed to install solar panels on your roof without permission as long as you are not located in a conservation area or commercial space and are installing standard non-elevated solar panels. However, if you live in a non-landed property you should seek approval from your town council or building management before planning any installation.

Terrace house in Singapore with solar panels. Source: sunprohomes.com.sg.

How Much Will It Cost?

Installing solar panels is a long-term investment, and you should be well informed on how solar energy can benefit you in the long run. Solar AI Technologies estimates that the average cost of solar panel installation for a terrace house in Singapore is about $18,000 for 20 solar panels with a 8 kilowatts peak (kWp) solar energy system. This includes rewiring the house’s electrical system to the grid with a photovoltaic (PV) system.

Solar home owners can see attractive savings in the long run.

How Much Can I Save?

An 8 kWp system can produce around 1000 kilowatts hour (kWh) per month in Singapore. Assuming that the average energy consumption of those living in a terrace house is 1200 kWh per month and the tariff rate of electricity is $0.30, they can expect to save around 83.3% on their monthly electricity bill:1000 kWh x $0.30 = $300 saved per month.

House with solar panels in Joo Chiat, Singapore. Source: solar-repository.sg.

Maintenance Costs

The warranty for your solar panel installation is usually 25 years, with 5 years product warranty for the solar inverters (part of the solar energy system). Inverters on average will need to be replaced 1-2 times in the lifespan of your solar panels which is 25 to 30 years. Maintenance costs for your solar panel system will range from $300 to $500 per job. Most solar companies recommend a maintenance check every 2 years. Thus, the maintenance costs for your solar energy system is relatively low taking into consideration your long-term savings.

Maintenance for your solar energy system is relatively affordable.

Can I Install The Solar Panels Myself

If you have the technical know-how and do not require permission to install your solar panels because you live in a landed property you could install the solar panel system yourself. However, it is still necessary to seek a licensed electrical worker to set up your system. In most cases, we recommend that you approach a professional who is familiar with the safety regulations and who possess the technical skill to install your solar energy system in the safest and most efficient manner.

Get a professional to install your solar panels.

Steps To Installing Solar Panel For Your Home

After consulting with your solar panel installer, they can begin with installing the mounts on your roof. From there, the solar panels will be safely attached to the mounts on your roof. Next, the solar panels will be wired to the PV system which helps turn the sunlight captured from your panels into electricity. Finally, the inverters from your PV system will be wired to the grid.

According to SolarPVExchange, a solar panel system can be installed as quickly as 2 weeks. Factors such as the structure and location of your house will influence the installation time. SolarPVExchange offers solar panel installation services in Singapore for commercial and residential buildings.