Solar power booms in Philippines as war on Iran spikes energy costs

What the report says

Solar panel demand is surging in the Philippines as households react to higher power bills linked to global energy-market shocks. In a report published by Al Jazeera on 17 October 2026, Manila residents and solar installers said the rise followed the United States-Israel war on Iran, which helped push electricity costs even higher in a country that already had among the region’s steepest rates.

The article highlights one Manila family that decided to install rooftop panels after its monthly bill rose from about $150 before the conflict to as much as $220. Solar installer Solarmaxx said business has accelerated sharply, with wait times stretching to about 30 days and monthly project volumes rising well above earlier levels. Al Jazeera also cited an Ember estimate that rooftop solar capacity in the Philippines had nearly doubled since early 2025.

The reporting places the trend in a broader energy context: the Philippines relies heavily on imported coal and gas, does not subsidize electricity in the way some neighbors do, and has seen the peso weaken, making fuel imports more expensive. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr declared a national energy emergency in March in response to the war and its risks to supply.

Despite the boom, high upfront costs remain a barrier for many households. The government has introduced a loan program for residential rooftop systems, though the article says it is limited to public sector workers. Officials are also backing larger renewable projects, including a large solar farm north of Manila, as a longer-term way to ease prices.