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Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Circulars

Advisory Note on Best Practices for Installing Solar Panels on Building Rooftops

Tags

Development Control

24 January 2017

Circular No : URA/PB/2017/01-DCG

Our Ref : DC/ADMIN/CIRCULAR/PB_17

CIRCULAR TO PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTES

Who Should Know:
Building owners, architects, engineers, contractors, licensed electrical workers, and solar photovoltaic (PV) suppliers/ system integrators

  1. As part of the national drive towards greater environmental sustainability in the built environment, solar panels may be installed on the rooftops of buildings to help generate renewable energy and reduce reliance on utility power. Building owners and industry practitioners overseeing such installations should install these solar panels in a manner that maximises energy harvest and minimises glare to neighbouring buildings.

  1. To achieve this, it is recommended to adopt a 10 to 15 degrees tilt angle of the panel to the horizontal plane. This range of tilt angles optimises the performance of solar panels by maximising energy harvest. Panels installed at less than 10 degrees may lose performance as rain trapped by the panel frame could cause dirt to be deposited on the panel as it evaporates. Tilting beyond 20 degrees also reduces the absorption of overhead equatorial sunshine (refer to Annex A [PDF, 304.64 KB] (opens in new tab) for more information on tilt angle and reflection) and may cause glare to the buildings in the vicinity.

  1. We would appreciate it if you could inform the members of your organisation on the above, and encourage them to familiarise themselves with the good practices listed in the Handbook for Solar PV Systems published by BCA and EMA.     

  1. If you or your members have any queries concerning this advisory note, please contact us at the following channels:

Contact details


Enquiry Line

Email

BCA

1800 342 5222

bca_enquiry@bca.gov.sg (opens in new tab)

EMA

6835 8000

ema_enquiry@ema.gov.sg (opens in new tab)

URA

6223 4811

ura_dcd@ura.gov.sg (opens in new tab)

  1. For other information on the master plan, urban design guidelines, private property use and approval, car park locations and availability, private residential property transactions, and conservation areas and buildings, use URA SPACE (opens in new tab) (Service Portal and Community e-Services). This is an online portal packed with useful data and visualisation to help building professionals, business operators and the general public in their decision-making. It consolidates detailed information on land use and private property into a one-stop platform presented on geospatial maps. For feedback or enquiries, please email (opens in new tab) us.

Thank You.

ANG KIAN SENG
GROUP DIRECTOR
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY GROUP
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

EUGENE TOH
DIRECTOR
ENERGY PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
ENERGY MARKET AUTHORITY

HAN YONG HOE
GROUP DIRECTOR
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY