Singapore gets an average of 1,580 kWh of solar irradiance per square metre each year,[1] and more homeowners are putting it to work: EMA counted around 10,978 solar PV installations in 2024, up from around 523 a decade earlier.[2] If you own a terrace, semi-detached house or bungalow, your roof may be one of the best places in Singapore to generate your own electricity.
This guide covers the approvals involved, what a system costs, how payback works, and how SP Group credits the electricity you export. Every figure comes from EMA or SP Group, linked below with the date we read it.
Solar panel approvals for a landed house in Singapore
You do not apply for a single "solar permit". Instead, EMA's implementation guide describes a team of licensed professionals who handle the approvals for you.[3]
- A Qualified Person (QP), who is a registered architect or professional engineer, oversees the design and installation and obtains the permits.[3]
- Depending on the project, approvals may involve BCA (structural), URA (planning) and SCDF (fire safety).[3]
- A Licensed Electrical Worker (LEW) commissions and turns on the system and applies for the electrical licences.[3]
EMA does not license "solar installers" as such. The licensed roles are the LEW and the QP, so ask any installer who fills each one on your project.[5] Generation licences and market registration apply only to systems of 1 MWac and above, far larger than any home system.[3]
Is your roof suitable for solar panels?
Most landed roofs can take panels, but the mounting method differs by roof type.[5]
- Reinforced concrete (RC) flat roofs use ballasted or penetrating mounts.
- Metal seam roofs use clamps, with no drilling.
- Clay and concrete tile roofs need extra work to mount the panels.
The QP must also make sure the layout meets SCDF fire-safety requirements.[5] Shading from trees and neighbouring buildings matters as much as roof type, which is why a roof assessment comes before any quote. Our free solar roof report gives you a first estimate from a satellite view of your own roof.
How much do solar panels cost in Singapore for a landed home?
EMA puts indicative upfront costs at S$1,000 to S$1,600 per kilowatt-peak (kWp), with recurring operations and maintenance generally between 1% and 2% of the total system cost each year.[2] On EMA's range, a 10 kWp system works out to roughly S$10,000 to S$16,000 upfront. That is our arithmetic on EMA's figures, so treat it as an estimate, not a quote.
What moves the price: system size, roof type and mounting, cable routes, inverter choice, scaffolding and access, and the approvals your property needs.
Is solar worth it in Singapore? Payback explained
EMA's own assessment is that most consumers are likely to break even in about seven years, although those with larger systems and higher electricity usage may see shorter payback periods.[2] Systems are designed to last for at least 30 years,[4] so a home that breaks even around year seven has many years of generation after that.
Your savings come mainly from the electricity you use directly from your panels, because every kilowatt-hour you generate and use is one you do not buy from the grid. For context, SP Group's regulated tariff for 1 October to 31 December 2026 is 28.59 cents per kWh before GST (31.16 cents with GST).[7] Tariffs are revised every quarter, so any savings estimate should state which quarter it assumes.
Payback is shortest when you use more of your solar power at home during the day. Charging an electric car from your own roof is one way to do that; our solar and EV charger bundle plans both together.
Selling solar electricity back to the grid: SP Group's Simplified Credit Treatment
On sunny afternoons your panels may generate more than your home uses. How that export is paid depends on who you buy electricity from.[6]
- If you buy electricity from SP Group and your system is below 1 MWac, you can register under the Simplified Credit Treatment (SCT). Exports are paid at the prevailing regulated tariff minus grid charges, credited to your monthly bill, at a fixed rate reviewed quarterly. A GIRO payout is available on request.[6]
- If you buy from an electricity retailer, exports are handled under the Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme (ECIS) through SP Services and paid at half-hourly wholesale prices, of which a key component is the Uniform Singapore Energy Price (USEP).[6]
- If you do not want to be paid for exports, you can register as a Non-Exporting Intermittent Generation Facility, which carries an estimated fixed charge every six months.[6]
Because the SCT rate moves with the tariff every quarter, we do not quote a fixed export rate. Your LEW sets up the connection; SP Group handles SCT enquiries at install@spgroup.com.sg.[6]
How long does solar installation take on a landed home?
EMA says solar PV installation for a landed property usually takes 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the weather.[8] Design, approvals and the SP Group connection happen around that, so plan for a longer journey from first survey to switch-on.
Solar panel lifespan, warranties and maintenance
EMA's guidance on what to expect:[4]
- Systems are designed to last for at least 30 years.
- Inverters usually need replacing at least once in that time.
Warranties come from the panel and inverter manufacturers and from the installer. With SuperCharge.SG: solar panels carry the manufacturer's (factory) warranty of up to 20 years, inverters carry the manufacturer's warranty of up to 5 years depending on the model, and our workmanship is warranted for 1 year.
Good maintenance covers regular inspection and cleaning, back-end monitoring, electrical safety checks and vegetation management.[5] Our solar and EV charger maintenance service covers each of these.