Can I put solar panels on my HDB flat?

Solar panel HDB basics: how SolarNova works

You cannot add a private solar system to your HDB block, but your block may already have solar. If you have looked out of a window in Punggol or Yishun and seen rows of dark panels on the next roof, that is the national programme at work.

Under HDB's SolarNova programme, solar panels are installed on the rooftops of HDB blocks, not on individual flats. HDB states that the energy generated first powers common services in the block, such as lifts, lights and water pumps, and that excess energy is channelled to the electrical grid. HDB says about 3,900 blocks have solar panels installed.

In other words, hdb solarnova is a shared arrangement. The panels help with loads every resident relies on: the lift up to the 12th storey, the corridor lights at dusk and the water pumps. Think of them as part of the block's equipment, like the lifts themselves, rather than something your household runs. Your Town Council can tell you whether your block has them.

Why flat owners do not install their own panels

The roof and the outside walls of your block are common property, shared by every household. They are not part of what you bought with your flat, so solar is handled for the whole block rather than by one owner at a time. The guide to who maintains what in an HDB estate shows where your responsibility ends and the Town Council's begins.

There are practical reasons as well. A rooftop array needs safe access, secure fixing points and cables run to wherever the power is used. A flat on the ninth storey has none of these on its own. A window ledge or corridor railing is also no place for a panel that could work loose over a walkway. If you are thinking of putting anything on the facade, even a small bracket, ask HDB or your Town Council first.

Solar for landed homes and condos

Private systems belong on roofs that the owners control. Searches for solar panels for flats Singapore often turn up installer advice written for houses, so it helps to know who that advice is for. If you own a terrace, semi-detached house or bungalow, the guide to solar panels for landed homes goes into more detail. In a condo, the roof serves the whole development, so start with the Management Corporation Strata Title (MCST).

EMA's page on evaluating a solar PV installation says to watch out for rooftops that are overly sloped or structurally complex, and for surrounding structures that may cast shade. If the roof has a waterproofing layer, EMA advises engaging a solar installer for a site check. You can own a system by paying the full cost upfront or a fixed monthly fee to banks. You can also lease one and buy the power under a Power Purchase Agreement. EMA notes that solar can help you save costs, since it is generally comparable to or lower in cost than grid electricity. You can use it to offset your own consumption or sell the excess to the grid.

Under EMA's solar payment schemes, SP Group customers may register under the Simplified Credit Treatment. They are paid at the prevailing regulated tariff minus grid charges, credited to the monthly bill and reviewed each quarter. Retailer customers may register with SP Services under the Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme and are paid at half-hourly wholesale electricity prices.

Cutting electricity use in a flat instead

In a flat, what you can change is the appliances you buy and how you run them. NEA's Energy Label shows 1 to 5 ticks, and more ticks means a more energy-efficient model. The label covers household aircons, clothes dryers and other appliances, and only registered models may be supplied in Singapore. If you are replacing an old aircon, read about aircon rebates and vouchers before you pay.

Your habits matter as much as your appliances. NEA's energy saving tips for households suggest air-drying your clothes instead of using a clothes dryer. That is easy in a flat with a service yard and bamboo poles. NEA also suggests checking the aircon air filter once a month and cleaning or replacing it when necessary, so that the aircon runs efficiently.

Understanding your bill

If you hoped solar would shrink your bill, look at the bill itself first. Our guide to a high electricity bill explains what to check when usage jumps from one month to the next. The energy saving FAQ answers quick questions about running appliances at home. It is also worth checking who supplies your power. The comparison in the next section explains the choice between staying with SP and buying from a retailer.

Questions to ask

• Condo owners: ask the MCST whether rooftop solar has been raised for the development, and how a resident can put forward a proposal.
• Landed owners: ask an installer to walk you through the EMA points: the site check for a waterproofed roof, owning or leasing, and the payment scheme that fits your account.
• HDB households: ask your Town Council about anything on the roof or facade.

Before you pick a payment scheme, read Open Electricity Market vs SP.

Questions