The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) has launched a free, publicly accessible web platform named SPECTRUM (Solar Power Estimation of Capacities and Tracking Using Machine Learning) to estimate and map rooftop solar installations across the Philippines. Unveiled in Quezon City, the tool leverages satellite imagery and spatial data to include both grid-connected and independent solar setups, addressing a long-standing gap in energy tracking.
ICSC emphasized that rooftop solar systems are a vital yet under-monitored part of the country’s energy transition. Many systems remain unregistered, limiting effective demand-supply forecasting and evidence-based policymaking. By offering localized, data-driven insights, SPECTRUM is expected to aid local governments, utilities, and developers in identifying solar potential, supporting net-metering adoption, and guiding renewable energy policy design.
As of end-May 2025, official data from the Energy Regulatory Commission shows 17,175 net-metered end-users nationwide, totaling over 157 MWp—though much rooftop capacity remains outside these records. With SPECTRUM now covering 174 cities and scaling toward 400, including economic zones, ICSC aims to bridge this information gap.
“Translating data into actionable insights is essential to advance sustainable development and resilience,” said ICSC executive director Angelo Dela Cruz. The platform is currently funded by unnamed philanthropic sources, with further expansion reliant on new grants.
This development underscores the growing need for accurate and transparent energy data, especially in the decentralized solar sector, as the Philippines navigates shifting demand-supply dynamics and policy imperatives in its clean energy transition.
