FAQ
Frequently asked Questions
Solar energy is energy generated from the sun; this energy (photons) is then used by devices such as semiconductors (solar panels) and in the form of passive solar (which involves capturing the heat from the sun i.e., solar water heaters).
Solar Energy is one of the more predictable renewable energy resources in the world. Trinidad and Tobago has an abundance of it given its geographical location, roughly 10 degrees North of the equator.
Fun Fact: Interestingly enough, in a single hour, the solar energy reaching the earth surface is greater than the total amount of energy that humans consume on an annual basis! Mind blowing.. right?
For those of you that want to know more on about the technical data- T&T solar insolation levels are relatively high, ranging from 5 to 6 kWh/m2 day, or roughly 2000kWh/m2 for the year, or about 600-800W/m2 during peak sun hours. The table below shows Solar Intensity in terms of kWh /m2 based on latitude where
Where: (1) = Direct Sunlight; (2) = Direct and Diffuse.
Direct Radiation – no clouding / no overcast conditions
Diffuse Radiation – clouding / overcast conditions
Photovoltaic cells (also known as solar cells) is the Renewable Energy technology that converts sunlight energy into usable electrical electricity. Photons from the sun’s rays are converted into electrons by the use of semiconductors made of silicon that produce an electrical current. Several solar cells are combined together to make up a solar panel. The overall efficiency of this conversion is dependent on the intensity of sun, the solar cell temperature (as electrical devices work better in cooler environments), the cell design, and the materials used.
Want to learn more? Click here to check out our training courses!
There a various types of technologies existing in today’s market among which include thin film cells, Mono-crystalline structures, Polycrystalline structures, solar tiles, Perovskite, tandem solar cells, clear solar cells, Gallium Arsenide, Tribo-electric nano-generators… and more methods are continuously being created as research advances!! The most common types that are commercialized and most feasible are polycrystalline and mono-crystalline. RESSCOTT LTD supports mono-crystalline solar cells as they are more efficient than polycrystalline.
For many reasons:
- RESSCOTT LTD installs solar energy every day throughout Trinidad and Tobago (roughly 30kWp per day) making us the most experienced company in Trinidad and Tobago. Our total experience is in excess of 100 MW!
- We’re an ISO9001:2015 certified company (global standard for organisational quality)
- We’re a group of Registered Professional Engineers under the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago
- We’re an engineering based company founded by engineers and maintained by quality. “Quality is our foundation; engineering is our advantage”
- Our staff have worked worldwide as sustainability engineers and energy managers for a broad range of companies and industries.
- We are a turnkey organisation with the capability to execute projects large and small from start to commissioning (civil engineering, logistics, mechanical engineering, R.E. Engineering, Control Systems, electrical engineering, inspection and maintenance).
- NFPA NEC690 (solar energy electrical code), ASNT, CWI inspectors.
- Eliminate headaches! We install zero system failure operation designs; an engineering solution coined by RESSCOTT LTD
- Prompt customer support; always do business with an experience company backed by global partners and investors.
- Our directors sit on the board for the Trinidad and Tobago Association of Energy Engineers (TTAEE) as Energy Consultants and are certified under AEE international.
- Our employees are masters in Renewable Energy Development, Commercial Renewable Energy and Renewable Energy Technology.
- We share a similar vision! A future for sweet sweet T&T that is energy resilient, sustainable and 100% renewable!
The cost of solar energy ultimately depends on which standardized system you choose.
What’s a standardized System? Well, what we’ve done is develop standardized engineering solar PV solutions designed to offer our clients the maximum value for their investment per kwh of energy output. There’s a tremendous amount of design options. Residential? – click here. Commercial / Industrial? – click here. If you’re a residential client, we recommend our 3kWp or 6kWp solar power system which can be installed and commissioned for an average of $45,000 and $95,000 respectively.
Contact us for a free consultation!
We get this question a lot and we’ve heard you loud and clear!
For residential clients, we offer a payment plan for 40% of the total cost paid over a 12 month period (interest to be calculated; average 15%). Interest can be avoided by repayment of the balance within 3 months of the system being commissioned.
For commercial, Oil and Gas and Manufacturing clients that install system on average 100kWp up to 2MW, we can offer project lease financing up to USD $8 million; repayment is made monthly and will depend on the project value, the equipment installed and is also calculated based on the total kWh per month produced by the system. To access this financing, RESSCOTT LTD is to be the engineering company to execute, commission and maintain the project.
How much Carbon Emissions can my Solar System displace?
RES3.0 – 210 kgCO2 per month / 75,600 kgCO2 over lifetime
RES6.0 – 450 kgCO2 per month / 162,000 kgCO2 over lifetime
RES15.0 – 990 kgCO2 per month / 356,400 kgCO2 over lifetime
RES30.0 – 1,975 kgCO2 per month / 711,000 kgCO2 over lifetime
RES100.0 – 6,580 kgCO2 per month / 2.37 Million kgCO2 over lifetime
RES300.0 – 18,900 kgCO2 per month / 6.8 Million kgCO2 over lifetime
RES1MW (1MW Solar Farm) – 63,300 kgCO2 per month / 22.8 Million kgCO2 over lifetime
Since inception, RESSCOTT LTD has displaced over 85 Million kgCO2.. we’re really proud of it too!
God is a Trini... But what about hurricanes?
Will my Solar System work during overcast weather / cloudy days?
No need to worry though! During your assessment, our engineers, using tools, will ensure that the position of your photovoltaic solar panels is ideal based on the layout and orientation of the roof. We take this information very seriously when it comes down to the design of your system by incorporating advanced technology to maximize system output. Taking it a step further, we use design software to model your PV array, calculate shading and shift things around a bit to show different scenarios and choose the one that gives the best output.
What about night time?
All our standardized residential solar PV systems come with battery storage (Gel / AGM / Lithium Iron Phosphate). Depending on the size of your solar PV system, RESSCOTT engineers will calculate the appropriate continuous loads that will be powered during the night period and size a battery bank accordingly; typically, a 6kW system is equipped with 9kWh of battery bank storage. Clients have the option to increase battery storage and also use an Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) to draw from utility power in extended overcast conditions and ultimately, enhance the reliability of power.
Should I worry about shading?
No! During your assessment, RESSCOTT LTD engineers will take the shading element of the equation and consider it in our design. Apart from incorporating advanced technology to maximize system output, we take it a step further by using design software to model your PV array, calculate shading and shift things around a bit to create different scenarios and choose the one that gives the best energy production.
What about holes in my roof?
Properly sealed! Further, our annual inspection includes rechecking drill points and applying touch-ups.
Would the panels be too heavy?
As for the weight of the array, it is less than 3 pounds per square foot for pitched roofs. To add, it’s not a point load, so a typically framed roof is more than adequate to carry the weight.
Why should I install a Solar Panel System on my home or business?
We could go on for hours! But let’s itemize some of the top reasons:
- Reduce the cost of your utility expenses by removing typically 50% to 100% of your utility bill!
- Charge your electric vehicles off-the-grid
- Prepare for and protect yourself from increasing utility rates
- Do your part to decarbonize Trinidad and Tobago! T&T produces 2.5 times the world average of CO2 emissions.
- Commercial businesses can achieve a Return on Investment typically within 8 years (only RESSCOTT LTD can offer this).
- No more power outages! Increase the reliability and standby redundancy of your operation
- Zero-failure system operation
- Increase the property value
- Set yourself up to sell power back to the local grid!
- Create jobs and help prevent structural unemployment! We know the energy transition is coming; so the more persons that install solar energy systems, the more we would be able to grow our company and offer more jobs. Currently, we employ 18 people and our daily installation are 30kWp per day; our projection is to reach a 50kWp per day target within the next year!
Tell me more about Resscott LTD's 5 Year Installation Warranty
- We’re the only company in T&T that offers a warranty on our solar PV installations!… Why? Because we know we did right!
- Solar photovoltaic systems are ideally maintenance-free! However, to ensure its longevity and mitigate potential failures, we will offer you a service contract whereby we will visit your installation site for inspection annually (bi-annually for larger commercial systems) at a cost of roughly TTD $600. An inspection certificate will be issued to you from which, maintenance (if any at all) will be determined (i.e. cleaning of panels).
Can I charge my electric vehicle using my Solar System?
Definitely! Charging your electric vehicle from solar energy rather than the grid means that your electric mode of transport is 100% green. We’ve done solar systems that were used to charge plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles; our experience shows that clients that have or plan to have electric vehicles and wish to charge them using solar energy typically install a minimum of 6kWp up to 15kWp. In some cases, you might not need to fully recharge your electric vehicle on a daily basis (maybe because that football game got cancelled due to bad weather), so excess power produced by your solar system can be used in other appliances and parts of your home/business.
Find out more about our Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV’s) and BEV charging here. RESSCOTT LTD can be your turn-key contractor for your planned solar powered (or non-solar powered) Electric Vehicle carpark charging ports! We have cost-effective engineering solutions existing for this already developed in house!
Is Solar Energy attractive as an investment? What's the return on investment (ROI)?
Commercial/ Oil and Gas / Manufacturing clients – ROI is typically within 7-8 years (applies also for solar powered lighting and carpark construction). RESSCOTT LTD is the only company with this proven design and engineering solution!
- Further, your equipment warranty is beyond 10 years and, you will have a net zero expense on the cost of operation of your solar system for up to 30+ years! Makes sense, right?
- Residential clients – ROI is typically within 7 years for off-grid clients and 12 years for utility connected clients.
Is my roof ideal for Solar Energy installation and what about roof space?
- Southern facing roofs are the best for solar energy installations north of the equator (where T&T is located) and the opposite is true for locations south of the equator.
- Every kilowatt of the solar array takes about 72 square feet; there are many configurations for installations so although it depends on several factors, 72 square feet per kW is a good figure to use to determine what size array is the maximum that can fit on your roof. To add, RESSCOTT LTD follows OSHA safety standards with respect to offset from roof edges to ensure the safety of our workers during the installation and inspection.
How will my electrical utility bill look after Solar Energy implementation?
- It will be less.. that’s for sure! Your solar inverter (the device that converts direct current (DC) from the solar array to alternating current (AC) for home appliances) is “behind the meter”. This means that once your solar photovoltaic panels are producing power and you are running your household appliances, your solar-generated power will be either consumed or stored in battery banks for reserve.
- Every kWh produced by your solar generator is a kWh you don’t have to purchase from the utility. In our experience, we have seen the majority of our clients save between 60% to 100% of their utility bill!
What government incentives exist for Solar Energy now?
Currently, there are 100% tax credits available for the cost of solar water heating equipment up to TTD $10,000. The Regulating Industries Commission, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Utilities are working toward implementing more incentives to support the countries initiatives and treaty obligations for Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. An increase cost for utility power is coming!
But why wait? From a cost-effective standpoint, it makes sense, now!
What can I power with a Solar System?
Pretty much everything under the sun ;)! Take a look at our top selling residential solar systems here!
- A standard 3kw solar system can power LED lights, 32” LED TV, fan, electronic devices (laptops, computers, tablets, Wi-Fi, Gaming Console), security lights, radio, projector, washing machine, blender, microwave and security cameras.
For commercial jobs, we’ve installed solar systems that power:
- Manufacturing facilities
- Car charging ports
- Bitcoin miners
- Data centers
- Hydroponic systems
- Greenhouses
- Pools and industrial pumps
- Large commercial offices
- Motors
- Instrumentation
- Control systems… the list goes on!
Do I need to worry about Sahara Dust on my Solar Panels?
You need not worry about Sahara dust! We’ve tested the output of our client’s solar panel arrays that have been affected by Sahara dust and have already concluded that the inefficiencies caused by the same are negligible, although, we do recommend cleaning your panels, the frequency of which will be determined through your annual inspections.
How many years do Solar Panels last?
Solar panels can last up to a whopping 30 years! Our solar panel manufacturers provide a linear power warranty of 25 years. In 25 years time, it is expected that technologies that already exist today for solar panels will become more commercialized and available to you (for example, perovskite, tandem solar cells, amorphous silicon, tribo-electric nanogenerators, Gallium Arsenide etc.). Currently, Monocrystalline solar panels have almost reached 23%; however new technologies offer efficiencies of almost 70%!
What's the maintenance requirements / cost on a Solar System?
Solar systems are essentially maintenance free! Our five year inspection plan (where we visit your installation once per year) will mitigate failure and maximize power output. Maintenance typically involves cleaning on the PV array annually.
What's the lifespan of Solar Energy equipment?
Take a look at some equipment life expectancies below:
- Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries: 12-year life expectancy
- Gel/AGMbatteries: 7-year life expectancy
- Solar Panels: 30 year life expectancy
- Inverters: 15 years (commercial), 8 years (residential)
How much experience does Resscott LTD have?
- With over 100MW of solar energy experience, RESSCOTT LTD is T&T’s most experienced solar energy engineering company. As Transition Engineers and Registered Professional Engineers (in T&T and the United States) with a global experience, it is our goal to develop solutions to help decarbonize T&T within the next ten years.
- 60% of our installations take place within the Petrochemical, Commercial, Oil & Gas and Manufacturing sectors; 40% takes place namely in the residential and agricultural sectors.
Can Solar Energy increase the price of my property?
Absolutely! Furthermore, we’ve found that homes actually sell faster with solar energy; this is also true in other countries.
What size Solar System is right for me?
We know you’re eager to get started, and so are we!
There are two things you can do:
- Browse this site and review our services and products.
- If you can’t seem to find what you’re looking for, contact us here!
Can I add my Solar System to my Insurance?
Of course you can. Contact your insurance agent for further details on how to do this (ask for advice from a RESSCOTT LTD representative). We highly recommend it!