Philippines Turns to Rooftop Solar as War Lifts Power Costs

Rooftop solar is spreading fast across the Philippines as households look for relief from electricity bills that have climbed since the United States-Israel war on Iran began in late February. Energy think tank Ember estimated that rooftop panels in the country have nearly doubled since early 2025, according to Al Jazeera. From March to May, the Philippines imported $407 million in solar panels from China, where most panels are manufactured, making it the biggest single overseas market for panels after only the Netherlands.

Keith Cantera said his family's monthly bill rose from about $150 before the war to as much as $220 after it began. His family had put off rooftop solar costing up to $5,000 for years, then decided to install panels eight months after prices surged.

The Philippines entered the war period with Southeast Asia's highest electricity costs, comparable only to Singapore, though Singapore's average income is more than 10 times higher. The country relies on imported coal and gas for more than 70 percent of its power mix and is one of the few countries in the region where electricity is not subsidised, according to Al Jazeera. The Philippine peso slid to a record low of more than 63 to the U.S. dollar, adding to the cost of imported fuel.

Demand has strained suppliers. Lexus Grepo, CEO of solar supplier Solarmaxx, said the company had 40 projects in March, almost triple its monthly clientele, and has installed 25 to 30 systems per month since then with a 30-day wait due to shipment delays.

In late March, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency in response to the war and what he described as imminent danger to national energy supply. In March, the government also launched loans for residential rooftop installations available only to public sector workers.

The pressure comes from a tight global fuel market. Oil prices were up more than 37% since the war started on February 28, and the U.S. Energy Information Administration has raised its price forecasts as stockpiles drain, according to Reuters. Brent crude touched $110 a barrel, while traders were betting in mid-October that prices will stay elevated through 2028, according to Reuters. TotalEnergies flagged a quarterly profit surge as continued high energy prices lifted results.