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What It Really Takes to Go Solar in the Philippines — Is It Worth It?

Island Expats

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Is solar worth it in the Philippines? With the recent rolling brownouts here in Bohol and across parts of the Visayas, we started asking whether it makes sense to invest in a whole-house solar and battery system.

In this video, I take you through what I found while researching solar for our home in Bohol, Philippines —from where our electricity comes from and why brownouts happen, to how a hybrid solar system can keep your house running when the grid goes down.

I'll also show you the actual system we're considering:

☀️ 24 × 630W AE Solar panels — 15.12 kWp
⚡ Sungrow MG12RL 12kW hybrid inverter
🔋 2 × 16.08 kWh Sungrow batteries — 32.16 kWh storage
🏠 Whole-house backup
🔌 BOHECO grid connection + potential net metering

Our house is expected to use roughly 700–1,000 kWh per month, or about 23–33 kWh per day, so we'll look at whether a system this size can realistically power the house during the day, recharge the batteries and provide enough electricity to get us through the night.

Then there's the big question: Does the investment actually make financial sense?

At approximately ₱750,000 for the system and around ₱10,000 per month in electricity costs, the simple break-even calculation comes to about 75 months—or 6.25 years. But saving money isn't the only consideration. There's also the value of having electricity when the grid doesn't.

If you're living in the Philippines, planning to retire here, building a home, or just tired of brownouts, hopefully our research will help you decide whether solar makes sense for you too.

Would you spend ₱750,000 on solar and batteries to reduce your electric bill and protect your home from brownouts? Let me know in the comments.

This video documents our own research and decision-making process. Solar production, electricity rates, system costs and payback periods will vary depending on location, usage, weather, equipment and utility policies.

#SolarPhilippines #SolarPower #Brownouts #BoholPhilippines #IslandExpats

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20 Comments

@IslandExpats Creator 7 hours ago Pinned

Would YOU spend ₱750,000 on this solar system? ☀️🔋

For us, this isn't just about lowering the BOHECO bill. The recent brownouts have made us think much more seriously about energy independence and having reliable power when the grid goes down.

Our proposed system is 15.12 kWp of solar + 32.16 kWh of battery storage + a 12 kW hybrid inverter, with BOHECO remaining available as backup.

If you already have solar in the Philippines, I'd really like to hear from you: Was it worth the investment? How large is your system, and how well does it perform during brownouts and cloudy weather?

And if you're considering solar like we are—what's holding you back: the price, payback time, batteries, or something else?

Your experiences could really help everyone else reading the comments. 🇵🇭☀️

@richardsmith9187 15 hours ago

I mentioned the 3 systems I put in, but I didn't put pricing. 2 systems the same. 6kw deye inverter, 14 620w (8,6kw) panels and a cst 16kwh battery. Those systems installed with automatic transfer switch and all wiring totaled P350,000. Our break even will be about 4 years. They are not on net metering yet, but that would cost around P45,000 extra per system. Third system was just installed last week. 8kw deye inverter, 14 735w (10.2kw) panels, and 1 cst 16kwh battery installed was a total of P408,000. Still needs to be hooked up to net metering. I don't know break even yet. We just aquired the house and in the process of furnishing it.

@CEOTOFARMER 14 hours ago

100% go solar

We have been solar for 3 years. We use AC 24/7 along with all our other appliances.

We have an 8KW inverter with 18 panels and 3 x 51.2V 200AH 10.24KW batteries.

Regards,

Simon

@danielmapes6598 16 hours ago

Along with your previous Drinking Water videos, this is yet another well researched, well presented, and very useful video for Philippine homeowners. I think your idea of experimenting first with only one battery should be a good decision.. As you know, batteries have a finite effective life. So if you find just one serves your needs well, then you could just purchase the second one in the future and reap the benefits of a new battery. If you only partially use two batteries, then they will still become old together. Enjoy.

@normm 4 hours ago

I'd be cutting grid power to the house all together. Staying connected and paying fees for a 'just in case' scenerio isn't really worth it. Perhaps look at an extra battery to carry you through or a gas/diesel generator.

@MrHeiarne 21 minutes ago (edited)

I would have started in the other end and asked: Why is my energy consumption in this house so high, and what can I do to bring it down to a bit lower level? My electrical bills use to be around 2.000-2.500 pesos, and I use aircon, but im a different way. For me a good enough solar power system would need to deliver ca 2.000 Watts at its peak, and not more than that. That will of course be cheaper. I would leave the installation to myself, and nobody else, if that is an option. That will also be cheaper. How to bring down the energy comsumprion for a building, that is a long and interesting discussion. But I see another advantage if installing "a huge capacity". That will be if you have en electical car, so that you can get the electrical power for the aircon and the car from solar panels.

@captainavatar0 12 hours ago

Segmentation is also an option with appliances and AC. Having battery backups in place for a fridge for example, is an off the shelf solution.

@dpm-save 13 hours ago

Solar panels are your best option. Net metering may not allow you to use your solar when there is a brown out. You will also have a monthly grid connection fee.I think your best option would be a battery for nightly electrical use. Batteries are very inexpensive at this time.The major advantage is electrical independence. In Canada during the winter it is dark at %pm, so netmetering is necessary because we save electricity in the summer and get to use it during the winter when there is less electricity being generated. You are lucky 6.25 years is a great deal. Great video!!! I would definitely wouldn't hook to the grid considering you have plenty of daily sunshine basically all year.

@meningate. 9 hours ago

tbh i think its a fair price, i'd pull the trigger on it, and thanks for having done the research, though sorta seen this coming as boheco has become less and less reliable over the last few years, not fully retired yet but on that day trigger gets pulled.

@ernieuson4030 1 hour ago

In addition: Ceiling insulation helps regulate indoor temperatures and block radiant heat in tropical climates like the Philippines. Common Types of Ceiling Insulation
• PE Polyethylene Foam (Single/Double Foil): Lightweight, affordable (around ₱30–₱190 per meter), and widely used to reflect radiant heat.

@richardsmith9187 15 hours ago

Solar is amazing. Iv'e done 3 projects in the Ph already. 2 family houses, and I just had it installed on our new house in Santa Cruz Laguna. I also DIY'd an off grid system in California for a 5th wheel at my old home in Northern California. Sungrow is a good brand, top tier. But it is pricey. I used Deye inverters for my projects in the PH because I was familiar with them from USA. Also it is not necessary to get 2 batteries. The main purpose of a battery is to provide power if the grid is down. With net metering, the grid is a much cheaper energy storage, even at half price in the credit. Plus the credit lasts forever. I think you could modify your system a little bit and reduce your payback timeframe. Our system is on track to be payed for in only 4 years.

@philpat 12 hours ago

Recommend 18 KW inverter. Not because you need it for your load, it will run under less thermal and electric stress. Inverter is the weakest link in solar setup. Over sizing may prolong its life and reduce the hassles.

Also remember that refrigerator, aircon and motors draw upto 10X their normal running wattage at startup. Although inverters can handle momentary surges it will undergo stress degrading its lifespan.

Please do not mess with net metering. I hope you do know that your solar will not power your house during brownout in net metering setup. They pay peanuts for what you export. Do you really want to deal with the bureaucracy of a monopoly in the Philippines?

@Arvintures28 3 hours ago

We have the same monthly consumption, about 800-900kwh a month and I have a 8kw inv with 16kwh bat and its enough. I'm paying now just 100-200 monthly from 8k-11k. I think the setup you have in mind is a little overkill.

@jimscholz2997 16 hours ago

You are living a western life, in a foreign world. Hot showers is a luxury for sure. Your vids are always well thought out. You seem happy, so you are getting your money's worth... Thanks...

@jonjaso4002 11 hours ago

Absolutely do it...Does anyone think that electric prices are going to come down? Once people are used to paying a price, there's no going back down. It is a lot of money, but the ROI for the system that you described is double with the better equipment. I don't think that you will regret it.

@ats89117 9 hours ago

Most electricity used in the Philippines is generated from coal which is mostly imported from Indonesia. Because of substitution of coal for diesel and natural gas impacted by the war, the price of coal has risen by about 50%, and it's harder to get because of increased demand from China.

As far as your system goes, a 6.25 year payback period is very reasonable. But you should also consider just buying the batteries and inverter to run off the grid and allow you to ride out brownouts.

@VisionClarity68 14 hours ago

I'm thinking there's another option. If you buy a battery system for solar panels, and charge the battery from the power grid, you have power storage without the solar panels

@Chrusttee 7 hours ago

It's great to think about the break even point and the savings long term, but for me it would be all about the quality of life and independence that Solar provides. Once you break even that's just gravy on the cake. 😂

@gav6808 7 hours ago

The power will still go out even with solar panels.You either need battery back up or a small UPS systemm

@mattgustafson2516 10 hours ago

If you want to know how much solar you need look at your electric bill. If you have been buying 1000 kw then put in about that much solar. Then read your meter at 6pm and again at 6am. Then you know what you used at night. Make sure you have enough to make it though the night.

Adding enough to charge a car is difficult one gallon of diesel fuel has a btu equivalent to 40kw. It takes a lot of power to charge a vehicle.

Take care.