High bills, cheap panels drive a solar surge
High electricity costs and frequent power outages in the Philippines have triggered a surge in residential solar panel installations. Consumers are increasingly turning to solar energy as a practical financial solution rather than just an environmental choice.
Why it matters
The trend reflects a broader shift in emerging markets where economic necessity is accelerating the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
MANILA, Philippines - Edwin Salas watched as the first of 20 solar panels was installed on the roof of his home, joining a Philippine solar energy boom sent into overdrive by the Middle East war.
The country's eye-watering electric bills - the highest in the region - were the primary driver of his decision, he said. Regular brownouts were a factor, too.
"Even if we don't achieve a zero bill, we'll be able to save a lot and have power even during outages," the 46-year-old shuttle bus driver told AFP at his house two hours south of Manila.
While the Philippine government has targeted a mix of 35 percent renewable energy by 2030, industry experts say the solar surge is a bottom-up phenomenon driven by businesses and individual consumers.
READ: PH has plenty of sun - so why isn't solar booming yet?
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