FAQs
Solar FAQs – Questions that are best answered before installing your Solar Panel System.
Click on any of our SOLAR FAQs for the answer. Or simply give us a call for more in-depth information!
How does Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels work?
Solar Panels absorb the sun’s energy throughout the day and convert it into DC energy. Most residential and commercial buildings in Singapore run on AC energy. The DC energy is then passed through an inverter and converted to usable AC energy. At that point, energy is supplied to the load in the building and any excess will be exported back to the grid.
What are the advantages of having a Solar Panel System?
– Bill savings and fixed energy costs over 25 years.
– Reducing our electrical consumption from the grid prevents the release of air pollutants to the environment.
– Solar panels can act as a double layered protection for common roof types in Singapore. Homes with solar panels are naturally cooler as heat is absorbed.
– If solar panels generate more energy than your consumption, the excess energy will be exported to the grid and converted to credits which will be used to offset your following month’s bills, PUB and refuse removal bills. Further excess will show a negative amount in the bill and remunerated to the consumer.
Is my roof suitable to install Solar Panels?
As long as there is no or minimal shading on the rooftop it is viable to install a Solar panel system.
Will the price of Solar Panels go down?
Prices are expected to continue to drop – in fact, solar is projected to steadily decline in price through the year 2050. However, that has not been the case as we have been seeing a price increase instead of a drop recently.
Also, the cost of solar installation will not drop at the same rate because hardware costs are less than 40% of the price tag for a home solar setup.
How frequent should I maintain my solar panels?
Panels are made of durable tempered glass and a stationary equipment. As such, it requires little to no maintenance for the 25 to 35 years. Maintenance every 2- 3 years with simple surface cleaning and cable checks would suffice. Panels are usually tilted at 5 – 10 degrees angle to wash off rain water preventing water stagnation.
How long will my solar panel system last?
The system is capable of withstanding poor weather conditions, it should continue to generate electricity for 25 to 35 years but power performance will deteoriate along the years.
What happens if I produce more electricity then I use?
The excess energy generated will be sold back to the grid based on computed tariff rate less grid charges
How soon will I notice a difference in my electricity bills after going solar?
Your Solar Panels will start generating energy for the building once installation is completed. Depending on when you receive your electricity bills, you can start noticing lower bills from the very first month.
What are the advantages of having a Solar Panel System?
– Bill savings and fixed energy costs over 25 years.
– Reducing our electrical consumption from the grid prevents the release of air pollutants to the environment.
– Solar panels can act as a double layered protection for common roof types in Singapore. Homes with solar panels are naturally cooler as heat is absorbed.
– If solar panels generate more energy than your consumption, the excess energy will be exported to the grid and converted to credits which will be used to offset your following month’s bills, PUB and refuse removal bills. Further excess will show a negative amount in the bill and remunerated to the consumer.
How long will an installation take?
A typical residential job will take about 1 – 2 weeks to be completed subject to weather conditions.
Will there be any drilling/penetration on my roof for installing Solar Panels?
We always undertake non-penetration installation where our customized clamps are attached at solar mounting structures on the roof. There will be no damage to the roof’s waterproofing membrane.
Why does Solar Inverter only have 5 – years warranty?
Solar inverters are easily replaceable, As technology advance over the years, consumers can look to procure a more cheaper, durable and efficient inverter in the market at that time.
Why use REC solar panels?
One of the main reasons would be local service support, REC has a manufacturing plant in Singapore (Tuas) and headquarter in Norway. Defective panels can be replaced with ease. They have the lowest failure rate in the industry of 1 : 10,000. REC is the only solar manufacturer in the industry offering 25 years product warranty. By far the only supplier offering 10 – 25 years labour warranty for solar panels.
Does solar panels produce power when the sun isn’t shining?
Solar panels will still produce energy but minimally during cloudy or rainy weather.
Can I have an energy storage solution instead of connecting to the grid?
It is indeed possible to go off grid solar, However having an energy storage system requires installation a lithium – ion battery which is expensive and maintenance would be a hassle. There is additional costs for a racking system and an upgrade to a hybrid inverter, Ideally you will be saving just the grid charges for exporting back to the grid. As such, it is not economical to have an energy storage system. Instead we can simply adopt a grid-tied system.
What is the warranty period?
Solar panels :
25-Year Product Warranty (1-1 replacement for any defective panels)
25-Year Performance Warranty (Guarantee that panels degradation does not exceed 0.7%/annum
25-Year Labour Warranty (Costs for un-installation, re-installation, labour and transport for defective panels is claimable for system sizes <25kWp.
Solar Inverter :
5-Year Limited Warranty
PMCE Workmanship :
2-Year Limited Warranty
Will I ever need to replace my solar panel?
Highly unlikely but it does happen. Solar panels are designed for exposure to immense weather conditions. There are first-generation solar panels still in service after 40 years producing 75% of its original output. It is a simple equipment with no moving parts making it rare for issues to arise.
What if I’m a tenant of the building?
In order to go solar, you need to own the property as the solar panel system will be connected to the master meter while tenants are usually billed for the electrical consumption based on the sub meter. If you choose to invest in solar as a tenant of the
building, you will not only be supplying energy for your own consumption but the whole building’s consumption as well.
How do I know if my Solar Panel System is generating energy?
We will install a monitoring device which will be able to track daily system performance and can be accessible through app or web. Alternatively, you can monitor the number of units exported to the grid from the ‘bi-directional’ meter installed at your premise. The exported energy is also reflected on your electricity bill.
