Are solar panels worth it for a landed home?

Solar panels for a landed home in Singapore: is it worth it?

It can be, if your roof suits it. The Energy Market Authority (EMA) says using solar energy can help you save costs, as it is generally comparable to or cheaper than grid electricity. In its guide to evaluating the potential for solar, EMA explains that you can use what your panels generate to offset your own consumption, and sell excess solar electricity to the grid.

What a system costs depends on your home. EMA notes that costs depend on the size of the system and how it is deployed, and it publishes cost and payback guidance on its evaluating page. Use that guidance as a reference point when you compare written quotes, rather than relying on a single estimate. EMA also recommends maintenance works every six to twelve months, so ask each installer what their maintenance covers and how often they would visit.

Home solar in Singapore is most likely to be worth it when your roof is large, unshaded and structurally sound, and when you know how exported power will be paid. If you are unsure about any of these, a site check from an installer is the place to start. Your own usage matters too, so gather a year of electricity bills before you meet installers.

Check the roof first

Start with the roof itself. EMA's evaluating page advises you to watch out for rooftops that are overly sloped or structurally complex, and for surrounding structures that may cast shade on the panels. If your roof has a waterproofing layer, EMA says to engage a solar installer for a site check.

Roof material matters too. EMA's guide to preparing for solar says metal roofs with seam profiles are ideal, as seam clamps attach the panels without drilling. Clay and concrete tile roofs are compatible but may need additional work. The Qualified Person must ensure the design and installation comply with the fire safety requirements of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), and solar installers typically engage the QP.

Get site checks from two or three installers before you decide. Ask each one what shade they found, how they will fix the panels to your roof type and how they will protect any waterproofing. EMA's solar section includes a solar vendor directory you can use to find installers to contact.

Who installs and switches it on

A solar job brings in more than one person. On the electrical side, the key role belongs to a Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW). EMA's implementation guide for solar says the LEW is responsible for turning on the system, applying for the required electrical licences and assessing the electrical connection requirements. Ask your installer who the LEW will be, and check the LEW's licence on EMA's portal before work starts.

If you are comparing electricians for this or other jobs at home, the licensed electrician page lists electrical companies with their published prices. The guide to work that needs a Licensed Electrical Worker explains which electrical jobs need one. Keep the LEW's name and licence details with your system documents, as you may need them for later work on the system.

How you are paid for exported power

How you are paid for exported power depends on who you buy electricity from. EMA's page on solar payment schemes sets out two routes. If you buy electricity from SP Group, you can register under the Simplified Credit Treatment. You are paid at the prevailing regulated tariff minus grid charges, the amount is credited to your monthly bill, and the rate is reviewed each quarter. If you buy from a retailer, you can register with SP Services under the Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme and are paid at half-hourly wholesale electricity prices.

If you are not sure which way you buy power now, check your current bill. The comparison of the Open Electricity Market or SP covers how the two ways of buying power differ.

You also have a choice of how to own the system. EMA's evaluating page describes paying the full cost upfront or a fixed monthly fee to a bank, or leasing the system and buying its power under a power purchase agreement. Ask each installer which options they offer and what the contract says about maintenance.

Estimate what you use now

Look at a year of bills before you size a system. Note your monthly usage and any months that stand out, and share the figures with each installer so their proposals start from the same numbers. If your bills seem higher than they should be, work through the guide to a high electricity bill first. The electricity cost calculator can help you estimate what you use. For solar panel cost, EMA publishes cost guidance on its evaluating page, which you can set beside your installers' written quotes.

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