Solar power booms in Philippines as war on Iran spikes energy costs

Rising electricity prices triggered by the United States-Israel war on Iran are prompting more households in the Philippines to install solar panels. Keith Cantera says his family’s monthly bill rose from about $150 to as much as $220 after the conflict began, and they are now having panels installed on their roof. Energy think tank Ember estimates that rooftop solar panels in the Philippines have nearly doubled since early 2025. From March to May, the country imported $407 million worth of panels, becoming the largest single overseas market for the period; the Netherlands bought more but redistributes panels across Europe.