The Philippines saw a ‘policy surge’ supporting renewable energy expansion during the Middle East war, outpacing other Southeast Asian countries, according to a study.
Zero Carbon Analytics, an international climate and energy research organization, said the Philippines adopted 13 renewable energy policies between February and August of this year.
During the period, the group logged 37 clean energy policies across the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam. The figure even outpaced the 29 fossil fuel policies these markets passed.
The rules cover several measures to support clean power’s growth, including expanding solar infrastructure and electric vehicles to drive renewable power purchases.
‘Our latest research signals a gear shift in Southeast Asia’s energy transition. Since the outbreak of the war, policymakers have prioritized long-term clean energy strategies over fossil fuel initiatives, and they are translating these policies into real action.,’ Amy Kong, senior energy transition researcher at Zero Carbon Analytics, said in a statement.
‘The Philippines, leading with the most clean policies, imported more than double the solar technology from China in the first five months of the war compared to the same period last year,’ she added.
Among the local policies cited was the proposed Sariling Kuryente Act, which seeks to accelerate the adoption of rooftop solar systems and battery storage.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is likewise requiring power plant developers to equip their renewable assets with energy storage systems. A facility with energy storage systems lets producers store excess electricity and provide a steady supply, especially given the intermittent nature of solar and wind power.
At the height of the bombing attacks in the oil-producing region, the global market, including Filipinos, saw fuel prices skyrocket, affecting petroleum products and power costs.
The Philippines, which relies heavily on coal imports, has also been exploring additional foreign suppliers amid risks tied to Indonesia’s new trade rules.
The government hopes to scale up renewables’ share in the power mix to 35 percent by 2030 from the current 25 percent.
‘What is striking is that the energy crisis has not simply pushed governments toward short-term fossil fuel measures. It is also changing the rationale for the longer-term transition, with renewables and electrification being seen not just as a climate solution, but as a strategy for strengthening energy security,’ said Alnie Demoral, Energy Analyst at Ember.