Solar panels wait for sunny outlook in Singapore

SINGAPORE (Reuters Life!) – For a country that’s right on the equator, relying on solar energy in Singapore seems like a bright idea. Try and get off the grid, however, and it quickly loses its shine.

The tropical city-state’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions are similar to Europe, and it imports all its fuel, which on paper makes solar power attractive.

“There’s a lot of roof top space in almost any housing — why not have an array of solar water heaters?” said Yatin Premchand of the Singapore Environment Council.

But in reality, solar panels are so pricey it makes little economic sense to get off the grid.

Reuters