Middle East hostilities present a significant opportunity for the solar rooftop industry as geopolitical tensions highlight the risks of fossil fuel dependency, the Asian PV Industry Association (APVIA) said Wednesday.
The group said market volatility serves as a reminder that energy security is economic security. APVIA chair Tetchi Capellan said the solar industry in both Asia and the Philippines views the current crisis as a catalyst for a transition toward cleaner power sources.
“Solar rooftop technology is one of the most efficient ways to convert abundant, locally sourced resources into dispatchable clean energy,” Capellan said.
The association said solar energy systems are modular and quick to install, providing an immediate alternative to rising electricity costs.
Capellan said that by pairing these systems with advanced energy storage, consumers can self-generate electricity, “peak shave,” mitigate the impact of price surges and ensure an uninterrupted power supply.
Capellan said the crisis presents an opportune time to accelerate the adoption of solar-plus-storage to provide community stability and decarbonization.
APVIA called on the government to act with dispatch and immediately convene a meeting among stakeholders to simplify the solar rooftop permitting process in local government units. The group also urged the acceleration of net metering implementation among electric cooperatives.
It also called for an amendment to the Board of Investments incentive scheme. The group said such changes would encourage installers and developers to aggressively roll out alternative solutions to traditional power supply systems.
