Rising electricity costs in the Philippines, exacerbated by the US-Israel war on Iran, are driving a surge in household solar panel installations, with imports nearly doubling since early 2025.
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01Summary
- 01Rooftop solar capacity in the Philippines has nearly doubled since early 2025, according to energy think tank Ember.
- 02Solar panel imports from China reached $407m between March and May 2025, making the Philippines the largest single overseas market after the Netherlands.
- 03Keith Cantera, a Manila resident, expects to recoup his $5,000 solar investment in five years, after which electricity will be essentially free.
- 04Solarmaxx CEO Lexus Grepo reports a 30-day wait for solar panels and a tripling of monthly projects to 40 in March 2025.
- 05The Philippines, which has Southeast Asia's highest electricity costs, relies on imported coal and gas for over 70% of its power mix.
02Why it matters
This matters because Filipinos face some of the highest electricity bills in the region, and the shift to solar offers a way to reduce household costs and insulate against volatile global energy markets, though upfront costs remain a barrier for most.
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