Interest in solar energy is accelerating across the Philippines as households grapple with rising electricity prices and an increasingly unreliable power grid, according to a new nationwide survey.
Even before the red and yellow power alerts that disrupted supply in parts of Luzon and the Visayas in May, many Filipinos were already exploring solar energy as a practical alternative rather than a premium upgrade.
The trend reflects growing concern over both household budgets and the stability of the country’s electricity system.
A survey by Agile Data Solutions Inc., conducted on April 23 through Hustle PH and covering 3,000 respondents nationwide, found that 87 percent of Filipinos either agree or strongly agree that they are considering installing solar panels.
Researchers noted that recent outages did not spark interest from scratch but instead reinforced an already rising demand for alternatives to conventional power sources.
Cost remains the dominant factor.
Nearly 80 percent of respondents said higher electricity bills influenced their interest in solar, with many households reporting monthly expenses ranging from P1,000 to P5,000. Reliability concerns are also significant, with 49 percent experiencing occasional outages and 18 percent saying blackouts happen frequently.
However, despite strong interest, adoption remains limited due to financial and structural barriers. These include high upfront installation costs, limited financing options, battery storage expenses, and concerns over system durability amid typhoons and extreme weather conditions.
The study also found that many households are entering the solar market gradually through smaller-scale products like solar lamps and portable systems before committing to full rooftop installations.
Awareness campaigns remain largely driven by non-government sources, with only 2 percent of respondents citing government programs as their primary source of information. Most rely on social media and private-sector providers.
“The interest is already there,” said Jason Gaguan, chairman and founder of Agile Data Solutions Inc. “The next challenge is making adoption more accessible, affordable, and trusted.”
