Singapore may not be blessed with copious natural resources, but it does enjoy plenty of sunshine all-year-round. Thanks to its location near the equator, the country also has a fairly consistent length of day, making it a viable spot for solar energy generation. Indeed, there are even ongoing plans to construct the world’s largest floating solar farm within Singaporean waters.
That feat, while already impressive in itself, is just one of several components of the ambitious Singapore Green Plan 2030, itself an initiative intended to help the city state hit a broader national goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Another key part of the plan is to get more local businesses to buy into sustainability initiatives, including the installation of on-site solar panels.
On-site solar panels are nothing new, and many businesses have installed them over the years for various reasons. Often, solar energy was seen as a way to better align with “green” mission and vision statements. But with the cost of solar infrastructure continuing to drop, it’s also proven to be a practical way to offset energy costs, particularly those related to air-conditioning, which is viewed as a necessity in tropical Singapore.
Recently, the case for SG’s businesses to switch to solar has grown stronger. In Singapore, a combination of government initiatives and new commercial solar financing solutions is lowering the barriers to entry, making solar more viable to a wider range of organisations. Whether you need a solar panel for business or have much more ambitious sustainable energy plans, here are seven practical tips to guide you through a successful transition to solar:
1. Make Use of End-to-End Financing Programmes
Being based in Singapore means you won’t have to go at it alone when funding a solar transition. Offerings like UOB’s U-Solar programme offer businesses a simple path to clean energy by connecting them with qualified technology partners and offering bespoke financing solutions. Initiatives like these vastly simplify the procurement process, keep upfront costs low, and enable your business to enjoy the benefits of solar sooner.
2. Do a Detailed Energy Audit
Understanding your current energy consumption before you adopt solar helps you find key causes of energy inefficiencies, potentially giving you much more affordable paths towards a solar transition. You’ll uncover opportunities to cut waste and be able to procure an optimally-sized solar system at prices that make sense for your business.
3. Tap into Available Government Incentives
Singapore offers a range of government-backed solar adoption incentives, mostly through the Energy Market Authority. Schemes like the Enhanced Central Intermediary Scheme (ECIS) for renewable energy installations and others that may apply to your business or non-profit can improve your project’s cost-effectiveness and significantly shorten your ROI period.
4. Evaluate Rooftop and Structural Suitability
Most businesses in Singapore are located in urban areas, with limited land available for standalone detached installations. This means that, of the businesses that can install solar panels, most will need to use their rooftops. However, for various reasons, not every commercial property is equally suitable for solar panels. Structural strength, orientation relative to the sun’s path, shading from nearby buildings, and available surface area can all impact system performance.
Before installation, you’ll need to work with a solar engineer to conduct a site assessment and identify the best possible layout. If space is limited, you may need to settle for partial installations or hybrid systems that pair on-site solar with power from the grid.
5. Consider Battery Storage for Greater Control
While solar panels generate power during daylight hours, your installation will also require battery storage to maximise power availability during cloudy days and inclement weather, both of which are commonplace during Singapore’s monsoon season. Expanded storage is especially worth considering if your operations have high energy demands and need to maintain power through peak demand times.
6. Don’t Neglect Monitoring and Maintenance
Solar energy systems are much more low-maintenance than comparable fossil fuel systems, but they’re not “set and forget.” Regular monitoring lets you eke out the best performance from your system and tips you off to faults or inefficiencies early on. Fortunately, modern systems now typically include real-time dashboards that track energy production and usage trends, sending the data to your device via a secure connection. These may help you stay on top of your system’s maintenance requirements without resorting to a needlessly frequent schedule.
7. Get Your Staff and Other Stakeholders Involved
Transitioning to solar is as much a branding decision as it is an operational shift. Involving your employees and customers in your transition can boost morale, encourage them to contribute, and give your brand a positive public image. If nothing else, at least communicate the reasons for your transition to keep your green goals top of your stakeholders’ minds.
Your Solar Transition Is Just the Beginning
Taking the time to plan your solar transition to avoid the common pitfalls and drops in productivity that tend to happen in these instances. Even though some hiccups may still happen, your business should enjoy long-term savings, better operational resilience, and improved environmental credentials at the end of your project.
Switching to solar energy can be a big step in making your business more sustainable, but it certainly doesn’t end there. As you implement these tips, consider exploring other green solutions such as supply chain decarbonisation and minimalising your packaging to expand your impact and keep your operations green.
Fortunately, Singapore’s finance and government institutions offer a variety of green loans and packages for these activities, reducing the potential impacts of these moves on your bottom line. Keep looking out for these opportunities to make your sustainability initiatives financially viable and aligned with your community’s wider goals.