What are the barriers to solar adoption in the Philippines?
- High initial cost and financing
- Lack of awareness and education
- Technological and technical challenges
- Better policy and regulatory framework
- Grid constraints and issues
Overview
- This article discusses the challenges hindering the widespread adoption of solar energy in the Philippines and highlights five main barriers faced by ordinary citizens or households.
- Challenges hindering solar adoption in the Philippines include high costs, lack of awareness, technological barriers, policy limitations, and grid constraints.
The push for renewable energy is a pressure experienced globally. However, numerous hurdles persist for developing countries in this pursuit, and the Philippines is no exception.
Despite noteworthy advancements in solar technology within the nation, a significant gap remains to be addressed to fully harness the potential of solar energy. In this article, we discuss five main barriers to solar adoption in the Philippines. Focusing on the ordinary citizen or household, read on to understand the factors that the nations still need to develop.
High Initial Costs and Financing
Money is the first and foremost challenge for any expense of an average Filipino. In a country where the minimum wage remains to be a little over 10 US dollars, shifting to new energy sources can be a daunting venture. The high inflation rate of 3.4% does not help make the transition easier.
While thriving mid to large enterprises can take up this investment, making it a more personal investment can be difficult. This is because it can take a toll on the pockets of Filipino families despite the many benefits. One easy and most popular advantage is cutting monthly electricity costs. Reducing the cost of using high-wattage household appliances. A few key appliances that can operate on solar are air conditioning and refrigerators.
Lack of Awareness and Education
One of the main barriers to solar adoption in the Philippines is awareness. Solar energy has been a known concept for a few centuries now. It first started by manipulating the sun’s rays to make fire with a magnifying glass. Fast forward to today, our concept of solar energy is more sophisticated with companies dedicated to learning how to use it.
Even though solar energy is somewhat of a ‘household name’ further information about the subject is still needed. This is because there are still many misconceptions about it. Government and organizations in the Philippines still need to push through a collective effort for its education. Empowering citizens with information is always the first step in creating radical change, and this radical change is taking advantage of the sun.
Technological and Technical Challenges
In the Philippines, using solar energy can be tricky due to technical challenges. For regular residents, this means problems with installing and maintaining solar panels, like getting permits and making sure your roof is suitable. Solving these issues is important to enjoy the benefits of solar power fully. Also, as solar technology gets better, you might need to upgrade your system. But doing that could bring new technical problems.
Better Policy and Regulatory Framework
The legislative branch of the Philippines recognizes the many advantages of renewable energy. That is why they encourage Filipinos to transition to solar energy with the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. This act aims to stimulate the exploration and development of renewable energy sources. It also aims to motivate the use of clean energy in all possible commercial applications.
While this law is certainly a great step toward adopting solar energy, it is also very much focused on enterprises. This means that fiscal and non-fiscal incentives are more catered to businesses rather than average households. Though Meralco’s solar net metering program may directly impact ordinary individuals’ electricity bills, the country has yet to strengthen and improve its policies and framework for solar adoption.
Grid Constraints and Issues
Grid constraints and issues are more hurdles when switching to sustainable energy. Daily the grid infrastructures are experiencing pressure to satisfy citizens’ electricity demands. This is through the purchase and use of new and more technology like electric scooters and HVAC systems. Having said this, fully depending on the power grid has its downside. One of which is vulnerability to power outages. That is why many businesses invest in renewable energy. Power independence is still one of the biggest office benefits of using solar energy.
However, the country’s power grid infrastructure and energy storage still pose a barrier to cleaner energy resources. Our power systems and storage require further development to reach a better integration of solar energy. Prioritizing this can lead to a more convenient way for Filipinos to use eco-friendly energy resources.
Key Takeaway
Transitioning to environmentally friendly energy resources is still a challenge in the Philippines. This is because there is still a need to improve many factors systemically and individually.
With the commitment to empowering households nationwide, Solaric offers quality and affordable solar energy solutions. We are a trusted provider of solar PV installations in the Philippines. We have catered to over a hundred clients who are now experiencing the benefits and power of turning on the sun. And you can be one of them too! Contact us today to learn more.
