In recent years, you might have noticed solar panels making their presence known atop various buildings in Singapore, like HDB flats, private residences, shophouses, and so on. This is part of our nation’s plan to move towards green energy in an effort to reduce our collective carbon footprint, and despite the seemingly hefty solar panel installation cost, it does help reduce electricity bills in the long term. Before you jump on the bandwagon, however, you might have questions about how the process works, its correlation to your electricity usage, as well as other concerns. Fret not; you’re not the only one — let’s take a look at 5 common questions regarding solar panel installations.
Will Solar Panels Generate Electricity on Rainy or Cloudy Days?
Singapore is mostly bright and sunny, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its fair share of rainy and cloudy days. Everyone knows that solar panels work best under a healthy exposure of sunlight, but does it still work when it’s rainy or cloudy? Well, in a nutshell, solar panels only stop generating electricity at night, but it still functions on cloudy and rainy days, albeit with less efficiency because there is less sunlight after all. While you don’t need a bright, sunny day to generate electricity, a good rule of thumb to remember is that the more sun your panels get, the more electricity they produce. For your solar panel installation to be at maximum efficiency, check if your roof gets ample sunlight.
Is My Home Suitable for Solar Panels?
This question has a direct correlation to your solar panel installation cost and the savings you stand to get. While it’s generally difficult to ascertain if solar energy is right for your home, there are some key considerations that can help you make that assessment. As mentioned above, the more sunlight your roof gets, the more efficient your solar panels will be at generating electricity. Additionally, the direction of your roof can also determine its suitability — in the northern hemisphere, your roof should face the south for maximum productivity; conversely, Singapore is located in the southern hemisphere, which means your roof should ideally be facing north. This is due to the sun’s northern offset in the southern hemisphere.
Lastly, consider the cost of electricity in your area, or in our case, the cost of electricity by our respective providers. The higher the price of electricity, the more money you stand to save by going solar.
How Much Money Can I Expect to Save on Bills?
The amount of money you stand to save on your electricity bills varies according to different factors, like how much electricity your solar panel installation produces, how much electricity you use, where you live, and the cost of electricity. Even though you might have the ideal home design for solar panels, it might not be worth getting them if you have a low electricity bill.
Do Solar Panels Need to be Cleaned?
Most high-quality solar panel installations are designed to be self cleaning in the rain. However, if you’re experiencing a lack of rain for long periods of time, dust, debris, and even bird droppings can accumulate on your solar panels and reduce their overall efficiency and electricity produced. It is therefore a good ideal to regularly check your panels and clean them with a hose or cloth if needed. If you’re unable to, do consult a solar panel company for maintenance services.
What Solar Panels Should I Get?
Solar panels are constantly changing in size, output, and efficiency, so it’s important to know what’s available. Clients typically have more preference in terms of aesthetics rather than the technology within the panels themselves. As far as the former is concerned, there is a wide range of options, including black panels, blue panels, mounted panels, and solar shingles.
Most, if not all solar panels will have a kilowatt/hour (kWh) label to indicate how much electricity each panel produces per hour in the sun. The higher this figure is, the more expensive your solar panel installation cost will be. The good news is that you don’t have to worry about the quality of the panels as most accredited solar panel companies are up to date on their products and will want to provide you with the highest quality options available.
Ready to embrace the sun? Check out Perry Management Clean Energy to find the right solar panel installation for you. Get a FREE quotation today!
