High bills, cheap panels drive a Philippine solar surge

High bills, cheap panels drive Philippine solar surge

While the government targets a mix of 35% renewable energy by 2030, industry experts say the solar surge is a bottom-up phenomenon driven by consumers.

High bills, cheap panels drive a Philippine solar surge

The country's eye-watering electric bills -- the highest in the region -- were the primary driver of his decision, he said. Regular brownouts were a factor, too. "Even if we don't achieve a zero bill, we'll be able to save a lot and have power even during outages," the 46-year-old shuttle bus driver told AFP at his house two hours south of Manila. While the Philippine government has targeted a mix of 35 percent renewable energy by 2030, industry…