How do I get started?

Getting Started with Solar Energy Is Easy

All you need to get started is to use our WATTZ calculator to get an estimate on what can be achieved. We need some simple information about your home & your approximate electricity consumption. If you have information on your historic electrical usage, you can provide this to us during the initial call, but it isn’t necessary to move forward. Next, we will schedule a time for one of our friendly & knowledgeable Certified Solar Experts to come to your home to perform a site evaluation & solar shade analysis. During this time, we will answer any questions you may have.

How do I know which solar system is right for me?

Every home is as different as the people who live in them. WATTZ will provide an obligation-free home assessment & recommend the perfect Solar System for your needs

How much will it cost me?

WATTZ installs & therefore owns the system on your roof. There is AED0.00 cost to you, only an immediate & ongoing saving on your electricity bill.

How often will I receive a WATTZ bill?

WATTZ will bill you monthly, as per your existing energy retailer.

How will solar save me money?

There are several ways in which solar power will save you money.

Locked in energy costs:

Going solar locks in a fixed electric rate & reduces the cost of the electricity you buy every month. When a solar system powers your home, you use considerably less electricity from the public utility, drastically reducing your utility bills. With locked in rates you can calculate fixed costs for the next 25 years.

How do home solar systems work?

A photovoltaic (PV) solar energy system is composed of solar panels, racking for mounting the panels on the roof, electrical wiring, & an inverter. From sunrise to sunset, the solar panels generate direct current electricity (DC) which is sent to the inverter. The inverter converts the DC into alternating current (AC), the type of electricity required for household use.

How does shade affect a solar system’s performance?

It’s important to minimize shading because solar panels operate at optimal output when their entire surface is fully exposed to direct sunlight. The system will still produce energy if it is shaded but its output will lessen.

How long will a solar system last?

Our systems are designed to have a useful life of 20 years or more.

How much will I save with a solar system?

Your current monthly energy use & the size of your system will determine your actual savings amount. And with little or no startup costs, systems can start paying for themselves immediately. Savings will vary based on several factors, including system size, performance, your household’s average energy usage as well as any applicable solar credits, incentives, & current solar energy buyback (net metering) rates offered by your utility company. A detailed calculation of your potential return on investment (ROI) will be provided by WATTZ during your solar evaluation.

How does a solar system affect my roof integrity?

At WATTZ our design & installations follow industry best practices, your roof is in absolute safe hands.

How will energy exported & be represented on my bill?

The electricity produced by the PV system reduces the amount of energy that a customer has drawn from the grid. If, at any point in time, more energy is produced than consumed, the excess is exported to the grid.

The monthly energy bill will only reflect the net amount of energy consumed as demonstrated in the diagram below:

If during a billing period more energy is exported than imported, the invoiced value of electricity will be zero & the surplus electricity will be shown as a credit which can be brought forward in the following billing period as shown in the diagram below:

Net Producer – Production higher than consumption

The following billing period, the credit will be offset against net consumption.

If during several consecutive months more energy is produced than imported from the grid, the credit accumulates & is carried over to the following months.

How will I be compensated for energy produced?

Any surplus of electricity will be offset from your bills in the following months. An indefinite rollover is applied, so any surplus will be carried forward to the next bill.

How long will it take to assemble the system?

Provided all authorizations required have been obtained, PV installations can be done quickly. A small 10 or 20 kW system can be installed within a week.

How does a Solar PPA work?

WATTZ provides a solar consultation that includes a site survey & financial analysis.

You sign a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with WATTZ.

WATTZ designs, installs & connects the solar system to the utility grid at little to no upfront cost to you.

You pay for the power you consume at a rate typically less than that charged by the utility company.

WATTZ continues to monitor & maintain the system while you save on your energy bill.

After 20 years, you can sign a new agreement or the system is removed at no costs.

Who is eligible for a WATTZ Solar Contract?

To be eligible you must be:

• A Dubai Permanent Resident
• Over 18 years of age
• Own your own home
• Have an existing electricity account

Who bears the cost of the new meter?

The bi-directional smart meter measuring the electricity exported to & imported from DEWA electricity grid will be installed by DEWA without any additional cost to customers over the normal service charges.

The second meter, installed to measure the electricity generated by the PV system, will be charged by DEWA as part of the one-off connection fees.

What happens if I sell my house?

The new home owner can take over the WATTZ Solar Contract & benefit from lower-priced electricity. Or, you can choose to purchase the system & incorporate it into the selling price of your home.

What if my Solar System stops working?

WATTZ provides a 24/7 monitoring system & onsite maintenance as part of the contract.

What happens to solar panels when it’s cloudy or raining?

Photovoltaic panels can use direct or indirect sunlight to generate power, though they are most effective in direct sunlight. Solar panels will still work even when the light is reflected or partially blocked by clouds. Rain helps to keep your panels operating efficiently by washing away any dust or dirt.

What’s a solar lease or solar power-purchase agreement?

In a solar lease or solar power-purchase agreement (also known as a “PPA”), a customer pays for the solar power system over a period of years, rather than in an up-front payment. Often customers can purchase solar for little or no money down, & often realize energy savings immediately. In a power-purchase agreement, a customer agrees to purchase all the energy from a solar system over a fixed period.

What are the benefits of buying a solar panel system?

Buying is a great option for many homeowners, especially since the solar power systems is an investment.

One of the main benefits of owning a solar energy system is that you may not pay a monthly solar payment. Buying solar panels often means maintaining them. When that’s the case homeowners are usually surprised to discover that most solar panel systems require little to no maintenance.

What is the lifespan of a solar panel?

A solar panel typically lasts approximately 30 years. During that time, most systems require little to no maintenance beyond removing leaves or snow & hosing off debris. In general, the life of solar panels depends on the quality of the solar panel technology used, including the photovoltaics (PV), & the quality of the overall installation.

What components are in a solar power system?

Making the decision to install a solar power system means having a full understanding of how creating renewable energy works. While it may seem like a complicated process, simple steps are taken to convert the sun’s rays into electrical energy for your home.

There are six components of a solar power system, as shown through this solar panel diagram that will harness the sun’s energy & make it your own:

1. Solar Panels: When properly installed, solar panels directly convert the sun’s rays into direct current (DC) electricity. These panels are made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells & are placed on a home’s roof in direct sunlight for optimal use.
2. Inverter: When the sunlight hits a solar cell, its photons are converted into electrons of DC electricity that flow through an inverter where they are converted into an alternating current (AC) power. This is the electricity that powers your home.
3. Electrical Panel: Once sent from the inverter, the AC power is sent to an electrical panel, also commonly known as a breaker box.
4. Utility Meter: Also, known as a net energy meter, a utility meter helps consumers keep track of how much solar power is produced throughout the day. When you generate more power than you can use, the meter works in reverse & sends that power to the utility grid, thus offsetting the energy you use at night.
5. Utility Grid: Your household or business will still be connected to the utility grid because it will need to draw power from it at night. However, the cost of using the grid’s electricity is offset by the amount of energy you put into it during the day.
6. Monitoring system: The monitoring system continuously tracks your solar energy production & makes sure your entire system is running correctly. If a problem occurs, the system will automatically notify WATTZ.

What happens to the energy produced? Is it automatically available for my personal use or is it fed back into the grid?

The electricity produced by the solar panel system is available for your own use & any excess is fed back into the grid. The quantity exported to the grid is monitored by the meter so that you can be credited on your future electricity bills.

What is the connection procedure?

The connection procedure consists of 4 different stages:

1. The No Objection Certificate (NOC) stage
2. The Design Approval stage
3. The Inspection & Connection stage
4. The Generation stage

What happens to my current electricity meter if I install a PV system?

If you have an old electro mechanic meter it will be replaced by a bi-directional smart meter measuring not only the electricity that you will import from DEWA electricity grid, but also the electricity that you will export to DEWA grid. If a DEWA smart meter is already installed at your premises this change will not be required, as your meter will be already fit for the purpose.

A second smart meter will be installed by DEWA to measure the electricity generated by your PV system.

Are there any additional costs other than equipment, installation & maintenance fees?

A one-off connection fee will be charged by DEWA as part of the connection process. This will typically represent a small share of the overall project cost.

Are there any permits or approvals that I must obtain from other government bodies to complete the application process?

You will need a Building Permit from Dubai Municipality for the civil or structural part of the installation, & a Completion Certificate after the Municipality has inspected & completed its final checks. For buildings located in Free Zones, the competent Authority (e.g. Trakhees) should provide these documents.

Can I install solar panels myself?

It is not recommended. The process requires both licensed electrical & roofing skills to ensure the solar power system is safe & optimally designed for 25+ years of production.

You will also not be able to apply for an on-grid connection as this requires certified & approved contractors & consultants to assist you with.

Can I purchase the system?

You can purchase the system at any time for an agreed amount. The price of the system will depend on how long the system has been installed in your home. This effectively terminates the contract & any maintenance obligations.

Can I terminate the contract?

Yes, you can terminate the contract at any time by purchasing the Solar System from us at an agreed value at that time.

Can my electric bill really be AED0.00?

Some solar systems produce more electricity than is used each month, bringing net electricity costs to AED0.00. However, there is still a minimal connection fee to remain connected to the electrical grid.

Do I get paid for my extra energy production?

Currently, Dubai is under a system known as Net Metering, which allows your net electricity costs to be reduced to zero, but no further. In a select few places around the world, you can be paid for any excess electricity you create, in what is known as a Feed-In Tariff system.

I don’t plan on being in my home for 25 years. Why would I add solar?

People move more frequently now than ever before, but that shouldn’t impact your solar decision. A solar system can save you money today & even pay for itself in as little as five to seven years. Even if you move before your solar investment is completely paid off, studies show the cost will likely be returned in added value to your home.

Plus, your home will most likely sell faster. Who doesn’t want a home with a guaranteed low electric bill? Our solar panel warranty is even transferable to the new owner.

In addition, WATTZ will be more than happy to assist you in transferring your system to your new home where applicable.

Is any maintenance needed for my solar PV system?

With limited maintenance, your solar system will operate at peak performance for many years.

Is having solar panels a luxury?

Some think that going solar is a luxury they cannot afford. This is far from the truth. Solar is being embraced in the modern age & it has gone mainstream. Prices have dropped as the technology has improved & financing is readily available. While solar energy panels are initially pricey, they are only the first investment to securing long-term savings. The cost of solar installation is a fixed cost, & you will experience the benefits immediately once your system is fully installed. You are simply exchanging one expense for another, with the bonus of having expenses which are: Predictable Cheaper Fixed price

Is it better to buy or lease a solar panel system?

You can lower your energy costs whether you buy or lease solar panels.

Customers who choose to buy a solar panel system are usually focused on maximizing the financial benefits & have cash on hand to invest. They also tend to be able to benefit from investment credits associated with solar power systems. Finally, homeowners planning to sell within the next few years may opt to buy a solar system because it can increase the value of a home.

Those who decide to go with a solar lease are often more concerned with sourcing their electricity from a clean, renewable source & want to start enjoying cost-saving benefits immediately. They are looking for a hassle-free way to use solar power without having to pay upfront costs, take out loans or deal with long-term maintenance.

If you can’t decide whether leasing or buying a solar panel system is more beneficial for you, contact us for a free consultation. Our team of experts will complete a thorough evaluation of each homeowner’s needs & goals before making our recommendations.

Is there any limit to the size of the PV system that I can install?

As per the Connection Conditions (Publications & Resources) the capacity installed cannot exceed the maximum load allowed at your premises.

Once produced, where is the energy stored?

While off-grid PV systems depend on rechargeable batteries to store excess electricity, grid-connected systems do not require any storage, as excess electricity can be fed to the distribution grid.

Net-metering programs provide producers with credit for any electricity they deliver to the grid.

Will my system work at night?

No. Sunlight must be present for your solar modules to produce power. At night, you draw power from your utility.