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Competition on price has become the most significant obstacle facing solar installers in the Philippines, according to research by New Energy Nexus Philippines, a nonprofit organization based in Manila. The findings, reported by pv magazine, draw on an April survey of the organization’s network of rooftop solar installers and follow-up research examining how solar adoption has shifted since.
The Philippines imports most of its oil from the Middle East and declared an energy crisis in March following the onset of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The country already had the highest residential electricity prices in Southeast Asia at that time, and prices have continued to rise since.
The crisis initially spurred greater interest in rooftop solar. Sheryl Estella, New Energy Skills Lead at New Energy Nexus Philippines, told pv magazine that combined weekly installations among surveyed installers more than doubled after the energy emergency began, rising from roughly 30 systems per week to nearly 70.
In April, installers identified supply constraints as their leading concern, but by September pricing wars and quality had become the foremost issues.
A briefing paper from the organization describes changing customer behavior, with buyers arriving better informed and prepared to compare installers on brand, warranty and after-sales service while seeking the lowest quote. The report indicates that most installers convert a quarter or fewer of their inquiries, with sales most often falling through because customers select the cheapest quote or cannot pay upfront.
Estella explained that price wars persist because customers lack a reliable way to distinguish a qualified installer from a cheap one, leading them to choose on price and overlook workmanship and after-sales service. She relayed an installer’s observation that low cost alone is insufficient, as serious clients want assurance that a system is reliable and that the company will remain available after installation.
She added that the Philippines would benefit from clearer standards for solar equipment, a practical accreditation pathway for installers supported by training and assessment, and a public list of certified products to help customers make more informed decisions. Estella said such standards must be achievable for smaller installers, including those in provincial areas, so that professionalizing the industry helps small businesses compete on quality and builds long-term trust in distributed solar without making participation harder for them.
Asked what measures would best support installers and the wider solar market, Estella pointed to finance first. She noted that installers lose sales when customers cannot pay upfront, and said the Social Security System’s planned solar loans would reach further if members could apply through their installer at the point of sale.
Estella also cited permitting as another area for support. While the government has moved to shorten permitting times since the energy crisis began, she explained that it currently publishes no data on whether those deadlines are met and sets no penalties when they are missed. She said compliance data, a plain-language guide for installers and consequences for missed deadlines would help turn the new rules into faster connections.
Although supply constraints are no longer the greatest concern among installers, the report says they have eased rather than been resolved, with lead times still sometimes costing deals. It also notes that while demand has moved past a panic buying stage, interest in rooftop solar remains considerably above levels recorded before the energy crisis began.
The Philippines is currently regarded as one of the world’s leading import hubs for solar panels, having imported 4 GW of Chinese solar panels over the first four months of this year. As of July, a further 3 GW were heading to the country.
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