Rooftop solar panels being pushed for the Philippines

Installation of solar panels on rooftops of households, commercial establishments and buildings is being pushed in the Philippines to help ensure energy security.

“There are about half a million new residential projects that are going on stream every year. If only 10 percent of these can be convinced to put solar panels on their rooftops, that will be a big help to both the distribution utilities and power generation companies,” said Theresa Cruz-Capellan, one of the founders of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance.

She added that it would also help reduce the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuels.

The potential market for solar industry players was estimated at about $450 million yearly. This was based on the 50,000 households, representing 10 percent of the half a million constructions yearly, that can install solar panels with a capacity of 2 kilowatts.

Thomas Chrometzka, head of international affairs of Germany’s Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft e.V., said rooftop solar panels could be a viable solution for the Philippines given its high solar irradiation level.

The Philippines is said to have solar irradiation of 1,900 kilowatts a square meter.

To produce a kilowatt of solar power from these rooftop panels, one would need to invest about $4,500 for the actual components and installation works. This investment can be recovered in about seven years but the solar panels usually last for at least 25 years, said Capellan.

She said investors in solar energy were also in talks with real estate developers and the Climate Change Commission for the possible inclusion of rooftop solar panels in housing projects within “ecotowns.”

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