The Shared Goal of a Solar-Powered Future

Across Southeast Asia and beyond, countries are ramping up efforts to meet global climate goals. Southeast Asia’s solar farm capacity has exceeded 20 GW, with Vietnam leading the charge in renewable energy adoption. Solar energy is one of the fastest-growing solutions in this movement – and while the Philippines is making strides, we’re not moving alone.

From Vietnam’s Feed-in Tariff boom to India’s National Solar Mission, our neighbors are providing clear, actionable lessons on how to scale solar. As we reflect on our own progress, it helps to ask: What worked for them? What didn’t? And how can the Philippines chart its own path in the renewable energy transition?

Can a Country Go Fully Solar?

Going 100% solar is a technically complex goal. It requires battery storage, grid modernization, and backup systems. But some countries in Asia’s solar adoption story have shown how much is possible when policy, private sector, and public demand align.

• Vietnam added an astonishing 4.46 GW of solar in 2019 alone after rolling out its Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program in 2017, offering generous rates per kilowatt hour to incentivize solar investment.
  
  
• India launched the National Solar Mission in 2010, committing to grid-connected solar across cities and rural areas. It surpassed its original target of 20 GW well ahead of schedule, becoming a global leader in solar capacity.
  
  
• Thailand now enables direct procurement of renewable energy through Direct Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), making it easier for businesses to access clean energy.
  
  

These success stories show that while "fully solar" may be aspirational, rapid and widespread adoption is very possible. Progress can come quickly with clear incentives and strong solar energy policies.

The First Steps to Solar: How Our Neighbors Got Started

Every successful solar journey starts somewhere. Here’s what the first steps in solar adoption looked like in key countries across Southeast Asia:

• Vietnam: Introduced its FiT policy of USD 0.09/kWh in 2017, leading to an unprecedented solar boom.
• Thailand: Launched community-based solar and corporate PPAs, making solar more accessible to commercial users.
• Indonesia: Focused early on rooftop solar for remote areas. Pilot programs were government-backed and aimed at reducing energy poverty.
• Malaysia: Started with the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme in 2016, allowing consumers to offset their electricity bills with excess power from their solar panels.
  
  

The key takeaway? Smart, targeted policy incentives – whether subsidies, PPAs, or net metering – kickstart national adoption.

Who’s Leading and How?

Let’s take a look at which countries are standing out in the race toward solar energy in Southeast Asia:

• Vietnam: The poster child for rapid deployment, thanks to FiT and a flood of private investment.
• Thailand: Strong focus on commercial and industrial solar through PPAs.
• Indonesia: Pushing decentralized energy and pilot programs for rural areas.
• Malaysia: Still growing, but its NEM 3.0 makes it easier than ever for homes and businesses to get started.
  
  

What do they all have in common? Clear frameworks, long-term plans, and collaboration between government and private sector. Their stories highlight what’s possible when solar incentives are paired with strategic public education and infrastructure investment.

South Asia’s Solar Pathways: Scale vs. Speed

While Southeast Asia moves steadily toward solar integration, neighboring South Asian countries offer contrasting models of adoption. India has been laying the groundwork for over a decade through large-scale infrastructure, while Pakistan has experienced a recent surge led by consumer demand. Together, they showcase two different approaches to solar growth.

India: Scaling Over Time

India’s National Solar Mission, launched in 2010, set out to achieve 20 GW of solar by 2022 – a target it met ahead of schedule. As of 2024, India has installed over 81 GW of solar power, with 24.5 GW added in 2024.

India’s success comes from structured tenders, long-term government commitments, and strong public-private partnerships. The focus has largely been on utility-scale farms, with rooftop solar picking up through state incentives.

Pakistan: Speed Through Necessity

Pakistan’s solar expansion is a more recent phenomenon – but it’s happening fast. In 2024 alone, the country imported 17 GW worth of panels, and net-metered rooftop installations reached 4.1 GW by year-end.

Rather than being driven by subsidies, Pakistan’s boom stems from high electricity tariffs (up 155% over three years) and lower solar hardware prices. In short, market forces, not policy, sparked mass adoption.

These two countries prove there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy – just context-specific solutions that work.

The Big Question: What Challenges Did They Face—And How Did They Overcome Them?

All these countries faced roadblocks. Some look familiar:

The lesson? Solar growth doesn’t follow one formula. It’s about solving for what’s blocking adoption in your own context. Every country had to learn and adapt – but with the right mix of innovation and policy, they found a way forward.

How Does the Philippines Compare?

The Philippines is making steady progress in solar adoption, particularly in rooftop installations, as more households and businesses seek affordable and sustainable energy alternatives.

Still, key barriers continue to slow our momentum:

• Policy inconsistency: Incentives and implementation vary across regions. For example, net metering processes are not standardized across LGUs, making adoption uneven and unpredictable.
• Limited financing options: High upfront costs remain a major hurdle for most Filipino households, with limited access to solar-friendly loan products
• Grid limitations: Much like Vietnam during its rapid solar expansion, the Philippines also faces infrastructure constraints that limit large-scale solar integration.
  
  

That said, we’re not starting from scratch. Local ventures like Solviva are making solar more accessible through simple financing, quick installs, and clear, friendly support. By focusing on what matters most to consumers - cost, ease, and education - we’re starting to close the gap.

So What About Us?

As solar continues to gain traction across Southeast Asia, the Philippines is carving out its own path – not just by policy, but by brands and ventures that bring solar closer to real people.

At Solviva, we’re not waiting for change to come from the top. We’re:

• Making rooftop solar accessible to Filipino homeowners through simple financing, fast turnaround, and friendly guidance.
  
  
• Building trust through education – breaking down the benefits of solar in a way that’s approachable, not overwhelming.
  
  
• Working closely with local partners to reach the right communities, from residential villages to neighborhood associations.
  
  

We’re taking the lessons from Vietnam, India, and others – and adapting them to what makes sense for the Filipino market: clarity, convenience, and customer care.

So, what are the barriers we’ll break next? And maybe, just maybe, we’ll be the ones others learn from next.

Final Thought: What Will Others Learn From Us?

With ventures like Solviva leading the charge, the Philippines is shaping a model grounded in access, education, and experience. We may be learning from our neighbors now – but soon, we might be the ones they look to next.

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