The Southeast Asian region, including countries like the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, is rapidly embracing solar power and other renewable energy sources. This shift towards cleaner energy is a testament to their commitment to ensuring a sustainable future. As these countries continue to set examples in renewable energy adoption, they pave the way for a transformative impact on the present and future generations.
According to Asian-power.com, the Philippines had achieved a grid-connected installed solar PV capacity of 903 MW by 2016, with plans to expand to 3 GW of utility solar energy by 2022. This growth is supported by the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) program and net metering policies, which allow organizations to export excess energy back to the grid in exchange for credit. These incentives significantly encourage the adoption of solar power across the nation.
Thailand is also making significant strides in solar energy, having reached a solar energy capacity of over 2,800 MW by 2016. The country aims to install solar power systems generating 6,000 MW by 2036, focusing on large PV installation projects to meet its 25% renewable energy generation goal by 2021.
Singapore is dedicating resources to the development of sustainable urban environments, with S$150 million allocated to the “Cities of Tomorrow” initiative. Meanwhile, Malaysia introduced the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme in 2016, targeting 500 MW of NEM by 2020 in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. This scheme allows users to sell excess energy back to the grid, promoting renewable energy adoption.
Globally, other countries are also contributing significantly to renewable energy generation. As reported by businessinsider.com, South Korea produces 2,398 MW of solar energy, Belgium 3,156 MW, Australia 4,130 MW, Spain 5,376 MW, France 5,678 MW, the United States 18,317 MW, Italy 18,622 MW, Japan 23,409 MW, and Germany leads with 38,250 MW.
These examples from Southeast Asia and beyond highlight the global movement towards solar energy adoption. It is crucial for nations to take climate change seriously and implement measures to mitigate the environmental damage caused by traditional power generation methods like coal, petroleum, and oil.
If you are considering investing in solar projects in the Philippines, we invite you to contact us. We are committed to developing advanced solar project investments at reasonable costs, contributing to a more sustainable future.
Source: A 2017 Overview of Solar Energy Usage in the Philippines