Did you know that the price of solar panels in Singapore is actually really reasonable? Yes, you heard that right! Solar panel installation prices have fallen by a whopping 89% in the past 10 years. That said, upfront installation costs can vary with the roof, type of solar panel, and more. Solar installers also have different prices and packages.
You can even get solar on your roof at $0 upfront cost, enjoying immediate savings on your electricity bill without worrying about the cost of owning and maintaining the system.
Want to skip the reading and just calculate how much your solar panel system will cost? Get an instant solar estimate with our free online solar assessment tool now!
Table of Contents:
To start off, let’s first talk about the common factors that can affect your solar panel cost.
Factors that affect Solar Panel Price
Size of the System
The size of your solar panel system will be limited by the available installation area on your roof. A larger system will cost more in total, but the unit cost per kilowatt-peak (kWp) will be lower and more cost-effective.
Its size is also dependent on the amount of solar electricity you want to generate. To maximise the cost savings from your solar panel system, we recommend getting an estimate of your average electricity consumption based on your electricity bills from at least the past 3 months. Since solar panels generate electricity during the day, another way to maximise your solar cost savings would also be to optimise your solar system size to meet your daytime energy needs.
Note: Many households are now consuming more electricity as many more people are working from home during the pandemic. Because of this, it might also be worthwhile to take a look at your electricity bills from before COVID-19.
Bonus Tip: Did you know that you can also sell excess electricity generated back into the grid in Singapore? With this in mind, you can also choose to maximise your roof space by installing more solar panels — even if you won’t consume all the solar electricity generated during the day. Selling any excess clean energy back to the electricity grid can help you make a profit from your solar panel system and reduce your payback period!
Roof Pitch, Type and Material
Solar panels can be installed on almost all roofs. That said, there are certain roof types that require additional materials for installation — such as racking and mounting systems. Meanwhile, your roof’s material will determine the mounting mechanisms needed for your installation. In Singapore, roofs are usually tiled, metal or concrete.
Tiled roofing: Tiles are usually first removed for the installation of a mounting frame before they are returned to their original spots. Your solar panels are then fixed onto the mounting frame. Drilling is usually necessary to ensure that the mounting frame is properly secured. More work is required in a solar panel installation on a tiled roof and this can add to costs.
Metal roofing: There are two main types of metal roofs used in Singapore – standing seam metal, and trapezoidal metal roofs. Standing seam metal roofs are the best roofs for solar, as no drilling or penetration is required and mounting clips can easily be fastened to the seams of your roof. This simple installation process also helps to reduce costs, and eliminate any risks of waterproofing concerns. It also means that your solar panels can be easily removed from your roof should you need to do so.
Concrete roofing: Concrete roofs are straightforward for solar installation too. Mounting racks for solar panels are secured and weighed down by concrete ballasts on the roof, and similarly does not require any drilling or penetrations. As concrete roofs are often flat, the mounting racks are tilted for solar panels to be “self-cleaning” when it rains.
Note: For steep roofs, a longer installation process is often to be expected. This is because installers have to be extra meticulous to ensure that your solar panels are safely and securely attached to your roof. Steep pitches will also often require extra manpower, resulting in additional labour costs and an increased solar panel installation price.
Type of Solar Panel
Two main factors determine the price of solar panels — their technology and the brand. There are 3 main solar panel technologies: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline and Thin Film. While each has its pros and cons, monocrystalline solar panels are now the most frequently used for residential rooftop solar installations because they are the most space-efficient and have the highest efficiency.
Most solar installers in Singapore usually recommend panels made by “Tier 1” solar panel manufacturers. This tiering system was highlighted by Bloomberg New Energy Finance as a measure of a manufacturer’s reliability and consistency. Among “Tier 1” solar panels, their prices vary based on where they are manufactured, their efficiency and warranty durations. The most popular solar panel brands used by installers in Singapore are Jinko, Trina, JA Solar and REC.
Overall Solar Panel Price Estimates
Here’s an estimate of the standard solar system prices for landed homes in Singapore. Remember that installation costs also vary dependent on your roof type.
So, how much does it cost to install solar panels in Singapore? The price depends on your house type, roof size and size of your solar system. This can range from S$18,000 to S$36,000 or more.
Terrace Houses: The usual system size would be around 20 solar panels with an 8 kWp system. The installation area would be approximately 45m2. The cost of your solar panel system would be S$18,000 and is sufficient for average energy consumption of 890 kWh per month.
Semi-detached Houses: You may be able to install around 30 solar panels or a 12 kWp system which will be able to cover an average monthly energy consumption of 1,182 kWh. This will cost around S$24,000 for the entire system.
Bungalows: Rooftop solar systems for bungalows would usually be around 50 solar panels, equating to a 20 kWp system with an installation area of 110m2. The average solar panel price for bungalows would be around S$36,000 due to the high number of panels and large installation area.
| House Type | Average Number of Solar Panels | Solar Panel System Size | Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrace Houses | 20 | 8 kWp | S$18,000 |
| Semi-detached Houses | 30 | 12 kWp | S$24,000 |
| Bungalows | 50 | 20 kWp | S$36,000 |
Other Solar Panel Costs in Singapore
Maintenance Fees
Most solar panels come with a 12-year product warranty and 25-year power output warranty. Meanwhile, solar inverters usually have a 5-year product warranty. These warranties generally cover 1-for-1 replacements of any physically defective equipment.
Note: we often recommend our customers to purchase a 5-year extended warranty on inverters. While it may cost an additional 30% on the inverter price ($300 to $800 on average, but dependent on the capacity of the inverter), they are more often the part of the system to encounter issues.
Although solar installers will often provide a contract or package with maintenance fees covered for the first 1-2 years (often referred to as a Defects Liability Period or DLP), installers do not provide free lifetime solar maintenance since most solar PV systems last for 25 to 30 years.
This means that if your solar panels require replacement within the warranty period, while the replacement panels will be provided for free, you may still have to pay your installer for the labour costs associated with the replacement work. Similar to air-conditioners, we also encourage solar homeowners to schedule an annual maintenance visit for your solar system. Maintenance and cleaning costs for your solar panel system usually range from $300 to $500 per visit in Singapore. Your installers can both clean your solar panels and conduct tests on your inverters and breakers.
Bonus Tip: Almost all solar panel systems these days also come with a free online monitoring platform or mobile app that you and your installer can use to track the performance and efficiency of your solar PV system. Monitoring your system regularly and solving issues promptly when they come up will reduce the chances of long-term damage to your solar panels. This can cut down unnecessary large expenditures in the future.
Waterproofing or Reroofing
Water intrusion is a risk that may occur after installing your solar PV system. The installation process for tiled roofs may require drilling to set up rails that hold your solar panels. These drilled holes may result in rainwater accumulation that can cause leakages.
If your roof is relatively old or poorly maintained, we advise waterproofing your roof before you begin installing solar panels. After all, your solar panels are likely to sit on your roof for the next 25 to 30 years. Waterproofing procedures will add to your budget. However, they are a worthy investment to prevent any possible leakages after installation.
To learn more about roof waterproofing in Singapore, do feel free to read our guide here.
Get an Instant Solar Estimate for your Home!
Thinking about a solar system for your property can often be an intimidating process, and we’ve been through that ourselves. At Solar AI Technologies, our mission is to make it as simple as possible for property owners to get solar. We’re the first (and only solar company) in Singapore to offer a fully carefree solar experience for homeowners — with fully covered maintenance and guaranteed solar energy production at $0 upfront cost.
Whether you’re ready to install solar panels on your rooftop, or just wondering how you can benefit from solar, use our instant solar assessment tool to get an estimate of the solar potential of your property and find out how much you can save.
This article was first published on 9 October 2020 and last updated on 1 February 2023 to include updated details.
