Considering Solar for Your New Home? Here’s All You Need to Know!

It’s never a better time to plan for solar panels for home, than when building your new home. By making a few strategic decisions now, you can save big on installation costs later and make your solar system more efficient and less obtrusive. Here’s a practical guide to getting solar-ready during construction.

How Is A Solar Panel System Built?

Before diving in, it helps to understand the essential building blocks of a solar system setup. Each part plays a specific role in making sure your home runs smoothly and safely on solar power.

Let’s start with the basics of solar panel for home. A standard residential solar system includes:

Solar panels mounted on your roof to capture sunlight.
Inverters to convert DC electricity from the panels to AC electricity, which our homes run on. Ideally, inverters should be located in a shaded and well-ventilated spot.
Miniature Circuit Breakers (MCBs) and Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs), installed within your main or sub distribution boards (DBs), for safety and protection.
AC isolators, which allow for manual disconnection of the solar system from the grid.

These are stringed together by wires, which often can be concealed by cabling/trunking cases.

While it is technically possible to build your own solar panel system with these individual parts, the level of technical expertise required is often too high. This usually results in a less than desirable solar panel system built that is unable to maximize the ROI of your roof.

Furthermore, you will also need a licensed electrical worker’s endorsement before your solar panel system can officially be commissioned, so we always recommend approaching a solar panel company to do it for you,

How Much Does A Solar Panels for Home Cost In Singapore?

Solar panel systems range widely depending on the build of your house, but on average cost between $18,000 to $36,000. We’ve done a comprehensive breakdown on how to estimate the cost of your system here.

Which Solar Panels Is Best For My Home?

Out of the 3 types of solar panels, mainly monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film, we always recommend monocrystalline solar panels to our customers. Tihs is because monocrystalline panels have the highest efficiency in the market (15-22%), have a longer lifespan of up to 30 years, and are aesthetically more pleasing with a darker coloured tone.

For the exact brands we recommend and offer, you can refer to our top solar panel brands here.

How Should I Build My New Home For Solar?

What most homeowners do not know is that even before building your home, you can already save up to 20%-50% additional solar installation costs, just by optimizing the design of your home. These are our top tips to look out for.

Choosing a Roof Type: What to Consider

Not all roofs are created equal, and choosing the right roof can significantly impact how straightforward, cost-effective, and efficient your solar installation will be. The materials and pitch of your roof will determine the type of mounting system used and how securely panels can be installed.

When you work with us, our solar consultants will also guide you through the ideal system layout, advising where to place panels for maximum performance while considering aesthetics, roof space, and future maintenance. We’ll help you make smart decisions early, so everything works seamlessly once your system goes live.

Here’s what works best:

Kliplok or Standing Seam Roofs: Kliplok is the gold standard. It allows non-penetrative mounting, which protects your roof from leaks.
Reinforced Concrete (RC) Roofs: Great for flat roofs. Panels can be mounted at optimal angles using metal structures.
Tile Roofs: These add complexity. Installation often requires removal of tiles, increasing cost and risk of future leaks. Terracotta tiles, by their nature, are also more susceptible to damage from weathering.
Trapezoidal Roofs: Workable, but generally not preferred as roof penetration is required for installation, increasing future risks of roof leakage.
Ideal Roof Pitch: Aim for 10–30 degrees. This maximizes panel exposure to sunlight while keeping wind load manageable.

Provisioning Space for Your Inverter

Inverters might not be the stars of the solar show, but they’re the engine under the hood. They need to be placed in the right location to ensure performance, longevity, and ease of maintenance. Think of it like picking the perfect spot for your air conditioner compressors or router; out of the way, yet still accessible.

Our solar consultants will help you identify the best location based on your home layout, ventilation, and of course, aesthetics. Then, our engineering and construction team will coordinate closely with your interior designers and contractors to make sure everything fits beautifully and functions flawlessly, without clashes or last-minute surprises.

The following guidelines will help provide a proper home for your inverters:

Wide Roof Eaves: If shaded and ventilated, these can be ideal.
Wall Space: Ensure it’s not exposed to direct sun or rain.
Preferred Locations: Attic floor balcony, back or side of the house on the 1st storey, or even front of the house if discrete.

Other Key Considerations

Optimizing your home for solar isn’t just about roof space and inverters. There are several other smart moves that will make installation easier and more cost-effective. These details might seem small now, but they can save you from major headaches down the road.

Direct Roof Access: Building in an access point makes maintenance and inspection much easier.
SubDB on Attic Floor: Makes wiring cleaner and shorter, and it also saves on cost.
Smart Metering: If you are interested in understanding how much solar power your home utilizes, in real-time, our solar consultants can help make sure you’re able to install a smart meter.
Wiring & Connectivity: Planning your cable runs will help minimise long distances between panels, inverter, and the distribution board.
Call Us Early: Before you seal up risers and false ceilings, let us do our part to run the necessary cables. This not only saves you time and costs, but also ensures the aesthetic of your new home is preserved as much as possible.
Distribution Board Planning: Your electrician should provision space in your distribution board for solar breakers and RCCBs.

How Long Does It Take To Install Solar In Singapore?

Solar systems don’t go in overnight, and timing matters. Understanding the typical lead time helps align expectations and avoid project delays. Let’s break down what the solar journey looks like on the calendar.

Project Lead Time: Allocate 1 – 2 months for consultation, design, and approvals.
Installation Schedule: Usually completed in a week, but actual dates depend on site readiness and weather.

If Your Home Need TOP/CSC Approval

Planning to get your Temporary Occupation Permit (TOP) or Certificate of Statutory Completion (CSC)? No worries, solar won’t get in the way. With a bit of coordination, your solar plans can align smoothly with regulatory milestones.

We can provide the necessary documentation and guidance so your system meets regulatory standards without delaying TOP/CSC approval.

Feel free to reach out to us on WhatsApp by clicking here.

Need A Solar Panel Installer For Your New Home?

Planning ahead makes all the difference. If you’re building now, optimizing for solar is low-hanging fruit for long-term savings. Questions? Contact us! We’d be more than happy to collaborate with your builder or architect.