FAQ

Solar modules convert sunlight to electricity. The modules generate direct current (DC) electricity which feed into the inverter, which transforms the DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity for use with the mains power grid. The electrical switchboard distributes solar electricity and mains power to the electrical loads of the building.

In Indonesia, feed-in-tariff system is not implemented and hence if your system generates more electricity than you consume,  you will not get paid by the excess electricity. However, on 19 November 2013, PT PLN (PERSERO) had issued regarding the excess energy from PV, can be offset  as deposit kWh for the following month. This means that for the following month, your energy bill will be lower. A net metering system will be installed to measure the import and export rate.

By installing a grid-connected PV system, you help to make a difference to the environment, save money and make a statement about your commitment to being green.

System prices depend on size, location, type of technology and individual options. Our sales team are happy to help with understanding all these factors and work out the right system for your budget.  Please inform us on your average energy bill per month , area of your roof top available to install solar modules and Electtrical Single Line Diagram (SLD) if any.

In a grid connected PV system you are connected in parallel with the mains power supply. Therefore, when the system is not producing electricity, power is drawn from the grid and your electricity supply is therefore uninterrupted.

The grid connect inverter will automatically shut itself off within a few milliseconds of a blackout, this is a safety feature called “anti-islanding”. Therefore even though you have a solar system, during a blackout you will not have power available.

Grid connected solar systems have no moving parts and require very little maintenance. We provide a maintenance schedule for the first year of the system which involves cleaning the panels, and testing to ensure the system is working correctly.

A grid-connected system has two main components: Solar panels (25 years warranty on 80% performance output and 10 years on 90%) and Inverter (5 year warranty). It is well proven technology and has numerous installations all over the world. The system could last 30 years under proper maintenance and care.

kW stands for kilowatt, or 1,000 watts. It is a measure of power. Grid-connected solar power systems are rated according to the number of watts it can produce under standardised conditions.

kWh stands for kilowatt hour. It is a measure of energy. If you ran a 1kW appliance for one hour, it would use 1 kWh of energy. Electricity companies charge per kWh of consumption.

kWp – Kilowatt-peak is the amount of power a photovoltaic array (group of solar panels) delivers at Peak Power in Standard Test Conditions (STC), whereby the radiation density equals 1 kW/m² and the photovoltaic cell temperature equal 25°C. Solar PV systems sizes are measured in kWp.

In short, Peak Sun Hours is the hours of maximum sunshine. The technical term is called “Solar Insolation”. It is defined as the amount of time that the solar irradiance is at 1 kW/m².  In the case of Jakarta , the average annual Peak Sun Hours is 4.84 hours. This is data obtained NASA Langley Research Center Atmospheric Science Data Center (2002). In Jakarta,  the Peak Sun Hours (Solar Insolation) is detailed below. For other areas in Indonesia, you can check out at www.gaisma.com:

We normally use a energy yield derating factor of 0.75. This is to account for other losses such as PV module conversion, tilt angle, orientation, cable, inverter conversion and dust/particulates etc. In the case of Jakarta, the average peak sun hours is ~4.84hrs. With a energy yield derating factor of 0.75, the effective energy yielding hours is 4.84×0.75 = 3.63hrs. The 3.63 hours is a conservative estimate.

Based on the above, a 3 kWp system will generate 10.89kWh per day in Jakarta(3 kWp x 3.63 energy yield = 945kwH). This works out to be 326 kWh per month.

Electrical tariff in Indonesia for Jan 2015 is Rp1,352  per kWh (above 1300VA). Therefore 326kWh per month would equate to savings of Rp 440,752 per month. We have seen an increasing electricity tariff and hence, be prepared that you will have more energy savings as price of electricity increases.

The level of solar energy depends on geographic location, time of day, time of year, weather and shading. System locations and feasibility are assessed for all solar installations. Years of weather data and experience has made it easier to accurately predict the output of a PV system under most conditions.

For a Grid-Connected (or Grid-Tied) PV system, the solar-generated power is connected in parallel with the power grid and therefore batteries are not required. Grid-connected systems effectively use the electricity grid as a storage system, which means if you are generating more power than you consume, the excess power flows into the grid.

However, in areas where there is no electricity or in remote places, hence a Grid-Tied system cannot be implemented. Hence, we use off-grid solutions where during the day, the Sun energy supplies the energy to the home and at the same time charge the batteries. During the night, the Sun energy which is stored in the batteries, will supply the power to the home.

The charge controller acts as a switch to cut-off the power charging the batteries when the batteries are fully-charged. The purpose of the Inverter is for power conditioner, converting DC power (from solar module) to AC power where most of our home appliances operates on AC power.

There is no dynamic parts for Off-Grid System and the additional equipment here are the batteries. The life span of the batteries depends the type of batteries (wet or dry, gel, deep cycle etc. On the average, most battery suppliers give 1-2 years product warranty and it depends on whether if the batteries are well taken care of or not. Hence, when designing for off-grid sysem, we will recommend batteries of minimum.

SHS is a small scale off-grid PV system where normally the sun energy is used to power up small loads usually lightings, handphone, LCD TV, fans  etc in a home. PT GOLD has customised solutions for SHS applications ranging from 10W to 100W.

You can download our Brochure in the Products and Services section in this

Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) is the incorporation of PV modules as part of the building’s exterior. This involves using special PV Modules and accessories that replace conventional building material. BIPV systems can be seamlessly integrated to become roofs, facades, canopies and curtain walls. Good BIPV systems will also have optional modules that can allow differing levels of light though a surface. This makes them ideal for Windows, Sunshades and Skylights.

Traditional solar modules are not designed for seamless integration with buildings. They are usually installed as a retrofit structure. For example, erecting an array of solar panels on top of an existing rooftop.

True BIPV systems are specifically designed for seamless integration into a building. They should serve at least 2 functions. The primary first is to become the canopy such as roof or shelter in a building. The second is to harvest energy from the sun to produce electricity.

BIPV  is durable, versatile, easy to install and has a very competitive total cost of ownership.

• The BIPV is part of the building material (e.g. roof). In this case, there is no need to install a roof with conventional roofing material before mounting the PV system. This means significant cost reduction to the property owner.
• Visually pleasing as the system is integrated as part of the building envelope and not as a “add-on” structure.
• Generate clean, green electricity.

• Grid Connected BIPV System

BIPV modules can be integrated to become roofs, building facades,  curtain walls, car park and bus shelters

• Grid Connected Standard (Retrofit) PV System

With reduced  material, the BIPV Modules can be deployed as a standard PV system on existing roofs. The overall cost of implementation is very cost competitive.

• Off Grid Systems.

The rugged construction, ease of installation and dependable reliability also makes BIPV module ideal for remote off grid applications, seaside properties and on boats.