Daven Tamayo

Nine out of 10 Filipinos want rooftop solar to be cheaper—Pulse Asia

Residents of Brgy. Coring in Dinagat Islands, CORA Philippines, and Greenpeace install solar panels to the community’s gymnasium on July 15, 2022 to provide clean, reliable power after being devastated by Super Typhoon Odette the previous year. The panels add an additional 4,800 watts of electricity and will power various barangay activities to help the community get back on its feet. Jilson Tiu, Greenpeace handout

Article (news)

Alvin Elchico

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Dondie Carrillo installed a 6.6-kilowatt solar panel on his rooftop two years ago. He spent a total of P160,000.</p><p>Thanks to this, his power bills went down by P4,000 to P5,000 per month, depending on the season. Now, he is saving some money to install a battery system in order to store energy for evening use.</p><p>He also plans to enroll in Meralco&#x27;s net metering system, but was told the process takes time. Meralco&#x27;s net metering allows consumers to earn bill credits for the excess electricity their solar panels export to the grid.</p><p>Not far from where Dondie lives is Evelyn Rusinas, who also has smaller solar boards with multifunctions. Evelyn&#x27;s Meralco line had been disconnected long ago, and the family just relies on the 6 small solar panels positioned in various parts of their small house. These portable solar panel lights also serve as charging ports for their electric fan and cellphones.</p><p>According to Evelyn, the family would have wanted bigger panels, but they lacked the budget.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PULSE ASIA SURVEY </strong></div><p>Evelyn&#x27;s situation echoes the result of a recent Pulse Asia survey commissioned by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC).</p><p>According to the result of the survey, nearly all Filipinos agree that the government should make rooftop solar more affordable. Nearly all respondents, or 97 percent, said they are concerned about current energy challenges.</p><p>ICSC said the survey indicates that the challenge is no longer convincing Filipinos about the benefits of rooftop solar, but instead, in making it affordable. Affordability has emerged as the biggest hurdle to wider adoption.</p><p>According to the group, based on the survey, public demand for decentralized solar power was exceptionally strong across the board:</p><ul style="margin-left:20px;list-style-type:disc"><li>93% of respondents stated that rising electricity demand makes affordable rooftop solar increasingly necessary</li><li>93% believe a mainstream transition is entirely achievable if citizens have access to the right information</li><li>91% said widespread adoption is viable if affordable financing options are made available.</li></ul><div><br/></div><p>&quot;Amid rising electricity costs, 85 percent of respondents now view rooftop solar as a necessity rather than a luxury, underscoring a shift in how many Filipinos see rooftop solar as a practical option for managing energy costs,&quot; said ICSC.</p>

<p>The challenge is no longer convincing Filipinos about the benefits of rooftop solar but instead, in making it affordable.</p>

The challenge is no longer convincing Filipinos about the benefits of rooftop solar but instead, in making it affordable.