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Key points

  • Small grid-connected solar PV systems range from 1 kW to 2 MW and are governed by SERA's small-scale solar PV regulations.
  • Net billing: surplus exported to the grid is valued financially and deducted from the next billing cycle.
  • Applications start on the Saudi Electricity Company portal, through an approved consultant or contractor from its list.
  • The company does not review structural or fire safety of the building; that is the role of the municipality and competent authorities.
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Solar radiation in Saudi Arabia is among the strongest in the world, and most homes have a flat roof suited to panels. The key question is not "do panels work?" but how to connect them to the grid properly, and how to protect your roof and home. This guide is based on the official documents of the Saudi Electricity Company and the Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority.

1) The regulatory framework

  • Saudi Energy (formerly the Saudi Electricity Company) applies the "small solar PV systems" regulations for systems connected to the distribution network, approved and amended by SERA's Board under decision No. (2/47/41) dated 29/4/1441 AH1.
  • These systems range from 1 kW to 2 MW, on flat roofs, canopies, sloped roofs or facades2.
  • SERA also has a newer framework for renewable generation for self-consumption (up to 30 MW), but it states explicitly that it does not apply to solar PV systems up to 2 MW, which fall under the small-scale solar PV framework3.

2) What does "net billing" mean?

During the day the panels may produce more than the house uses, so the difference goes to the grid. At night, or when production is low, the difference comes from the grid. At the end of the billing cycle the meter records what you imported and exported, and the surplus is valued financially and carried forward to be deducted from the next cycle2.

Note: the tariff used to value the surplus and any application or connection fees are set by the competent authorities and are updated; take the figures from the company portal when you apply, not from contractors' adverts.

3) Connection steps with the company

According to the company's official connection guidelines2:

  1. Register on the company portal and select an approved consultant or contractor from the list published on the portal.
  2. Initial application: filled in by the consultant or contractor with you; the company checks eligibility and you pay the initial application fee.
  3. Evaluation: completed within a maximum of 20 working days; the approval is valid for 180 days. If rejected, you get 60 days to revise and resubmit at no extra charge.
  4. Economic feasibility study: the consultant enters the data in the "Shamsi" tool on SERA's website, and you sign the feasibility acceptance form.
  5. Design approval: the consultant uploads the final design and the municipality approval for the company's review.
  6. Connection fee and connection agreement, valid for 20 years from signing.
  7. Installation, then a site test, then the inspection request.
  8. Company inspection, commissioning test and meter installation; the system then operates under net billing.

4) Why an application may be delayed or refused

The company checks eligibility against SERA's regulations, including2:

  • The total of connected small-scale systems must not exceed 3% of the previous year's peak load.
  • Solar capacity must not exceed 15% of the rated capacity of the transformer feeding your home.
  • Residential consumers get connection priority.
  • Systems above 50 kW require a mandatory technical assessment of network hosting capacity.

5) Components and key safety requirements

  • Panels and mounting structures.
  • Inverter: converts DC to AC synchronised with the grid2. Among the design checklist items for systems up to 11 kW: minimum protection of IP41 indoors and IP54 outdoors2.
  • RCD: with transformerless inverters the checklist asks for a Type B RCD; Type A is sufficient if the inverter cannot inject DC current2. See breakers and RCDs.
  • String voltage: no more than 1000 V DC for installations on buildings2.
  • A manual disconnecting device to isolate the system from the grid, as also required by the Saudi Building Code (SBC 401)2.
  • Meter: installed by the company after successful inspection and commissioning2.
  • Batteries (optional): add cost and need space, ventilation and safety requirements.

6) Protect your roof before the panels

The company's guidelines state that it does not check the mechanical design of the PV system, nor the structural and fire safety of the building; that is the role of the municipality or other competent authorities2. In other words: the electricity company's approval does not mean your roof can carry the load.

Practical notes (practical advice, not regulatory text):

  • Fix the waterproofing and insulation before installing panels; removing them later is expensive. See roof waterproofing.
  • Every hole in the roof for the mounting structures must be treated with the waterproofing system itself.
  • Have a structural engineer confirm the roof can carry the structures and wind loads.
  • Leave walkways for maintenance and cleaning dust from the panels.

7) Questions before contracting

  1. Is the consultant or contractor on the approved list on the company portal?
  2. Who handles the initial application, feasibility study, design approval and inspection?
  3. What capacity is proposed, and why? Ask for a study based on your actual bills.
  4. Does the design include the right RCD for the inverter type and a manual disconnecting device?
  5. What are the warranties on panels, inverter and installation, and who maintains the system?
  6. Does the price include structures, protection, wiring, waterproofing repairs and the municipality approval?

8) Pros and cons

Pros

  • Daytime production, when AC demand peaks.
  • Financial value for exported surplus, deducted from later bills.
  • Panels partly shade the roof.

Cons and cautions

  • Upfront cost; payback depends on consumption and tariffs.
  • Connection depends on grid and transformer capacity in your area.
  • Dust reduces output and requires cleaning.
  • Poor installation can cause roof leaks or electrical hazards.

Links and regulatory points last verified: 28 September 2026. Procedures and fees may change; the final reference is the Saudi Electricity Company portal and SERA.

Sources

The number next to a statement points to its source in this list. Sources back the general information; anything marked “practical advice” is editorial experience, not a quoted source. Anything that affects safety, structural design or electrical installations needs a licensed professional, and in Saudi Arabia the binding reference is the Saudi Building Code.

  1. 1Small-scale solar PV service — introduction (regulations approved and amended by SERA Board decision 2/47/41 dated 29/4/1441 AH) — Saudi Electricity Company (SE)
  2. 2Guidelines for Consumers, Consultants and Contractors to connect a small-scale solar PV system to SEC distribution networks — Version 4 — Saudi Electricity Company (SE)
  3. 3Regulatory Framework for Renewable Energy Generation for Self-Consumption, ERD-TA-004 (V02/23) — Saudi Electricity Regulatory Authority (SERA)
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This guide is for general information and planning, based on standards and technical guides. Standards are revised periodically; in Saudi Arabia the binding reference is the Saudi Building Code and the instructions of the competent authorities. For design and execution, use a licensed engineer or technician. Found an error? Tell us.