Solar 101: FAQ about Solar in Singapore
Dear landed homeowners and business owners who are thinking of whether to install solar on their premises, here are some of the common FAQs we received over the years which we compiled (with answers).
If you have any further questions, do email to enquiries@solarpvex.com and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Go solar, Save Money and Save the Environment right now!
Q1. How does a Solar System work in Singapore context with the grid?
Singapore is an ideal location for solar system deployment as a safe alternate source of energy compared to conventional power plants. In fact, from the generation perspective, solar energy does not have carbon emissions and hardly requires any maintenance.
99% of all residential solar systems (Landed Houses) are what we call a, "Grid-Tied Solar System."
There are several components that makes up a solar system, which comprises of mainly the solar panels and a solar inverter.
Solar Energy generated via the panels flows in one direction (Direct Current) to the solar inverter. The solar inverter is responsible for converting energy from DC to AC (Alternating Current) as AC can be easily shifted up for transmission and back down for distribution with the help of transformers along the grid transmission network.
Generated Solar energy is consumed directly by electrical appliances in the household in real time and energy is distributed via the Distribution Board (DB) in your house.
Q2. Do I need to change anything when installing a Solar system in Singapore?
Once the project is finalized and signed off, SolarPVExchange process all applications for you, including liaison with Singapore Power. The process will be largely seamless for you.
If your energy retailer does not support your request of a solar installation, you might have to revert to SP for the application to go through or sign up with another retailer that supports solar. We will advise you on this during the initial phase before project sign-off.
Your electrical meter might need to be upgraded to a bi-directional meter that supports solar. We will help to schedule a convenient date and time for SP to come down and upgrade your electrical meter (Comes at zero cost) During the upgrade, your power supply will be turned off for around 30 minutes.
Q3. How does the generated solar energy help me reduce my energy bill?
The generated solar energy will help you save on 2 main fronts.
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Savings from Consumption
Your energy consumption from the grid would have dropped as your house has another source of energy which is your solar system. - Savings from Selling of Unconsumed (Excess) Energy
Through SP Group, Energy Market Company (EMC) will pay you for your excess solar energy. This will be reflected in your SP bill in the form of credits which will offset your water, gas and waste charges.
Scenario 1 – 70% of Solar Energy is Consumed & 30% is Exported.
We have dedicated an article about the savings you get from solar based on varying scenarios
www.solarpvexchange.com/SG/blog/2020/landed-residential-owners-how-much-one-can-save-by-going-solar-20200515.html
Q4. Can I use the solar energy for my night-time usage?
Solar energy that is not consumed by your house is transmitted back to the grid and there is no energy storage. Therefore, you are unable to use the generated energy at night.
Unfortunately, energy storage systems (ESS) are still not economically viable yet for commercial systems, let alone residential systems. ESS Technology is still in the development phase and only time will tell once it achieves stability at competitive price points.
Note: This graph is just for reference, based on a typical sunny day as output varies from region to region and on the cloud conditions on that day.
Realistically, a solar system will not be able to power your house 100% unless you have a solar system so huge and consumption so little that this can be achieved. Even so, this could only happen intermittently during the day when there is optimal generation. Therefore, a household will still require energy from the power grid and that is why in your bill, consumption of energy and export of energy are charged separately.
We hope this have helped you understand more about how a solar system works in Singapore. For queries, contact us at enquiries@solarpvex.com
.