MANILA, Philippines -- Rising fuel prices sparked by the Iran war are pushing anxious consumers across vulnerable Asian markets to adopt rooftop solar systems, creating a major opportunity for China, the dominant global supplier of solar equipment.

The Philippines, grappling with a severe energy crisis, reports a 70% surge in weekly solar installations and a sixfold rise in customer inquiries among 20 surveyed local firms since the war started.

"The ongoing crisis is accelerating solar adoption," noted Brenda Valerio from the nonprofit New Energy Nexus, which conducted the survey. "Demand for solar is urgent and widespread."

China stands to gain significantly from this war-fueled demand. Exports of Chinese clean energy gear reached an all-time high in March, per data from energy research group Ember, amid growing global appetite for solar solutions.

"China is dominating this sector by a wide margin," observed Li Shuo, director of the Asia Society Policy Institute’s China Climate Hub, describing the renewables market as essentially a Chinese monopoly.

Highly dependent on Middle Eastern oil and liquefied natural gas, the Philippines ranks among Southeast Asia's hardest-hit countries from the Strait of Hormuz disruptions.

Domestic airlines are considering fuel limits, public transit staff are getting financial aid, and gasoline and diesel prices have soared. To cut usage, government buildings now operate on a four-day week with air conditioning set no cooler than 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Energy price hikes in the war's first two months have burdened Filipino households, firms, and agencies with over $600 million in extra costs, according to climate group 350.org.

"Our post-war energy bill was a real eye-opener - a huge jump," shared Jaime Quemado, a recent rooftop solar buyer in Manila.

Quemado also cited fears of blackouts, prompting his shift to solar, which he called "abundant and reliable in the Philippines."

New Energy Nexus data shows inquiries leaping from about 115 in February, pre-war, to over 450 by mid-April.

Solar advocates urge the industry to "capitalize on this surge," Valerio advised.

In Manila's sweltering heat, EcoSolutions teams installed an 18-kilowatt rooftop array with 28 panels from Chinese giant LONGi and four batteries from Suzhou's Dyness group.

"The conflict has solidified solar's role in the market," said EcoSolutions president Richmond Reyes.

Joel Remegio from the Association of Solar Installers of the Philippines labeled the crisis a "transformative moment" for the country's emerging solar sector.

Rooftop solar's appeal lies in its scalability and accessibility, said Marissa Cerezo of the Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau.

"It empowers everyone to make the switch," she added.

Interest in solar is spreading throughout Southeast Asia.

Indonesia aims for 100 gigawatts of rooftop solar by 2034, up from 1.3 gigawatts today. Vietnam targets 10% coverage on public buildings and homes by 2030. Thailand is exploring incentives to boost grid purchases of excess solar power.

Analyst Yu Sun Chin of Zero Carbon Analytics says the energy crunch is spurring these policies.

"Leaders are wisely reassessing solar to reduce expenses," she explained.

U.S. and European online solar retailers and utilities have seen similar upticks in sales and queries since the war erupted.

"Rooftop solar offers the simplest way to slash electricity costs," said Oxford University's Jan Rosenow, an energy and climate policy expert.

Compared to pricier options like electric cars or heat pumps, solar's low barriers make it the go-to clean tech, Rosenow noted.

Ember reported China shipped 68 gigawatts of clean tech in March - matching Spain's full solar capacity and twice February's volume. The war is hastening the global shift from fossils, the group concluded.

Shipments to Africa soared 176% to 10 gigawatts, surging in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Asian exports excluding China doubled to 39 gigawatts, with big gains to India, Malaysia, and Laos.

The transition's pace hinges on leaders embracing electrification over fossil fuels, said Ramnath Iyer of the U.S.-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

Pre-war surpluses in Chinese solar panels positioned firms perfectly for this boom, per Li of the China Climate Hub.

"China's lead in clean tech is unassailable, and the Iran crisis will only strengthen it," Li concluded.