Aboitiz solar startup plots expansion outside Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines — Solviva Energy, a solar startup backed by Aboitiz Power Corp., is looking to tap into growing demand for rooftop solar as it expands beyond Metro Manila, with Cebu and Davao as its first target markets.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve been in a testing phase. Now, the goal is to expand in the smartest way that we can. We intend to be available in more cities and offer more products for more households,” Solviva CEO Coby Cobankiat said.

The company has been seeing rising interest in cleaner and more affordable electricity options as Filipinos grapple with persistently high power bills.

Cobankiat said the continued volatility in global energy markets has further accelerated demand for rooftop solar.

“That has been the tipping point for us. Instead of us trying to force demand for rooftop solar, they’re coming to us,” he said.

In recent months, consumers have taken to social media to air their frustrations over soaring electricity bills.

In August alone, electricity spot prices in the Visayas and Mindanao reached record highs amid sustained demand and the simultaneous shutdown of large coal-fired power plants.

Solviva said inquiries for its residential solar packages surged by 272 percent from March to August compared with the same period last year.

The company also observed a notable shift in customers’ electricity consumption after installation, with households using more power overall.

This is a trend Cobankiat viewed as a positive indication that solar can help consumers better manage their electricity costs.

While interest in residential solar is growing, the relatively high upfront cost of installation remains a major hurdle for many households.

To address this, Solviva offers a zero-down-payment, rent-to-own option with fixed monthly installments spread over as long as five years. Payments begin 30 days after installation.