When I asked Francis Koh about some of the biggest challenges facing solar energy adoption in Singapore, I wasn’t expecting “bird excrement” to be one of them.
Koh is an SP Group principal engineer from the Sustainable Energy Solutions (SES) team and has worked on installing solar panels at many of SP’s electrical substations for the past three years.
Photo from SP Group.
“Bird poop can really mess up the amount of green energy that can be produced by solar panels,” Koh said, with absolute seriousness and sobriety.
To explain this, Koh gave me a quick crash course on how solar panels work: Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic (PV) panels, consist of tiny solar cells that generate electricity when sunrays hit their surface.
Bird droppings, Koh explained, when built up on a solar panel, can block sunlight from reaching the cells.
This doesn’t just make the panel less efficient but also creates hotspots – areas on the panel that overheat because they don’t get enough sunlight.
They’re also pretty tough to clean, especially since the poop can dry up in the sun, requiring some serious elbow grease to scrape it off.
Our feathered friends do not pose the only challenge faced by solar panel engineers today, however.
During our conversation, Koh candidly shared with me the ups and downs of working in the solar energy industry in Singapore.
Finding the right location & improvising solutions
Finding suitable spots for installing solar panels can be tough.
It takes a lot of planning, Koh said, to find locations with adequate sunlight, while also getting the necessary permits.
You also have to integrate the solar panels with existing electrical systems.
Tall buildings can drop shadows on the panels, causing “shading” issues. And in a city like Singapore where skyscrapers are aplenty, it can be hard to find a sunlit spot with adequate space.
Sometimes, the solution requires thinking out of the box.
During an installation project at one of SP’s substations, Koh and his team ran into a shading issue due to the surrounding building developments.
So, Koh and his team needed to improvise.
“We came up with a new layout for the panels to make sure they got the most sunlight possible. We also tracked how the shading affected the panels at different times of the day. This meant moving some panels to new spots and creatively adjusting their angles and spacing,” he said.
Koh and his colleague, Md Idrus Bin Omar, Technical Officer, are inspecting the condition of the cables of the solar panel system. Photo from SP Group.
For Koh, however, the experience was a “great learning opportunity”:
“It showed our ability to adapt to unexpected situations and find effective solutions to complex problems. Despite the challenges, we managed to keep the solar panels working efficiently and ensure the project’s success.”
Misconceptions
Koh also shared some misconceptions about the solar energy industry that he has encountered.
One common misunderstanding, he said, is that solar panels don’t work on cloudy days.
“While their efficiency is reduced, they can still generate electricity,” Koh explained.
Another misconception Koh wanted to clear up was the idea that solar panels installed on substations will lead to an ‘oversupply of electricity’.
The thinking goes that green energy is being generated on top of the normal electricity generated, transmitted, and distributed to neighbouring homes, schools, and offices.
Koh, however, clarified that SP’s electrical substations are equipped to regulate the electricity supply to prevent any such oversupply issues.
“This management is vital to maintaining the balance and stability of the electrical grid,” he said.
A rapidly evolving industry
Koh shared that the renewable energy world is rapidly changing, and he is always keeping an eye on new and evolving trends.
“The technology for solar panels is progressing rapidly, the panels are getting larger in size and efficiency level is advancing very fast,” Koh explained.
The installation of bigger panels requires good planning, too, due to space constraints.
Sometimes, Koh has to attend training sessions by various solar panel manufacturers to better understand the newer technologies out there.
Despite the challenges he faces, Koh still sees the potential for a greener Singapore.
Koh explained, for instance, that SP Group will be installing solar panels at 37 of its electricity substations by 2025.
These substations are part of the power grid infrastructure owned and operated by SP.
Voltage electricity is stepped down through transformers in these substations to the right level for consumers, and then distributed via electrical cables.
The installation of solar panels on the rooftops of suitable electrical substation sites would, in turn, expand renewable energy sources and green Singapore's electricity grid.
The solar panels, in turn, will deliver up to 21,000 megawatt-hours of energy a year to our grid.
That, by the way, is enough to power more than 4,500 four-room flats a year.
Pushing for a sustainable future
Koh was a project manager in the lighting industry before he joined SP in 2022.
Koh made the switch, he explained, because he was always passionate about renewable energy and its importance for Singapore’s future:
“Thinking back when I was young, there were news articles that the oil is running out and that the leadtime keeps getting shorter. Then you realise Singapore enjoys the sun all year round.”
When Koh came across a role in SP Group’s solar energy unit back in 2022, he knew that he had to seize the opportunity.
Koh ensures that the solar panels are well connected to the solar connectors during an inspection. Photo from SP Group.
“I was excited to work with an organisation that is passionate about protecting the environment and making a positive impact,” Koh shared.
SP Group, after all, has been making strides when it comes to decarbonising the power sector.
They have been accelerating their sustainability efforts with solar panels, microgrids and battery energy storage systems.
The company is also optimising the management of its renewable energy solutions, having developed a system to uphold grid reliability and resilience.
Working at SP Group, Koh says that he feels fulfilled knowing that what he does is for the benefit of the environment and future generations.
In addition to the support he receives from his fellow teammates at SP Group, Koh’s passion for solar energy keeps him motivated at work
“When we start a project from scratch, we are driven by the determination to see it to fruition. That keeps me going.”
If you’re interested in finding out more about what SP Group does, or if you want to be a part of their push for a sustainable future, you can check out their careers page here.
This story is brought to you by SP Group. And happy International Day of Clean Energy!
Top photo from SP Group & Canva.
