Engr. Rey Gapultos

19/05/2026

I attended the Solar & Storage at SMX. It was a fulfilling experience to be there, seeing all the top players in the industry and learning from how they face and resolve their challenges.

I also had fun catching up with our suppliers, friends, and colleagues. It really is a small world for us, but a huge leap toward a bigger mission.

I’m grateful to see this industry continuously thriving. This event showed us that solar is no longer just an option, but a necessity for every Filipino who longs for a sustainable future.

08/05/2026

Fear conquered

07/05/2026

Ano nga ba ang Guerilla Solar Setup?

06/05/2026

What to expect sa solar:

1. Building Permit will become mandatory

Habang padami na ng padami ang nagpapasolar hindi na pwede ang bara-bara o “pakabit lang", ire-regularized na ito ng LGU and distribution utility para magkaroon ng proper standard sa bawat installation na naaayon sa IEC. Dahil lumalaki na ang industriya, inaasahan na dadaan na sa tamang proseso kasama na ang building permit at electrical permit.

2. Standardization of Inverter Brands

Dumarami ang inverter brands sa market pero hindi lahat ay reliable. Nauuso na rin ang white labeled invertesr, yung iba, pare-parehas ng itsura, iba lang ang pangalan. Mas ipu-push ng utilities ang paggamit ng IEC-certified at globally compliant na inverter.

Bakit?

First, para sa anti-islanding protection feature, para hindi makuryente ang linemen kapag may power outage. Kailangan baganda yung power cut off sa bawat inverter.
Second, para sa power quality o harmonics nito para hindi maapektuhan ang grid stability.

3. Strict compliance sa Rapid Shutdown Device

Ito ang isa sa pinaka-critical na safety requirement. Kapag may sunog, ito ang ginagamit para i-cut ang DC power galing sa solar panels papunta sa inverter.
Para ito sa safety ng mga bumbero upang hindi sila makuryente habang nag-aapula ng apoy gamit ang tubig. Sa future, hindi na ito “optional”, kundi standard requirement na talaga.

4. Shunt Trip for Commercial & Industrial Systems

Sa ibang LGU at utility, requirement na ito.
Ang shunt trip ay nagbibigay ng access sa power disconnect ng solar pv system. Ibig sabihin may way ang utility or emergency responders para patayin ang system agad. Control at safety ang main goal dito, lalo na sa malalaking installations.

Sa ngayon yan palang yung mga nakikita kong magiging hakbang ng LGUs and distribution utilities sa pagreregularized ng solar.

05/05/2026

Bakit mahalaga ang permit sa pagpapagawa ng solar?

05/05/2026

Reposting my previous video dahil nagiging usap-usapin na sa National Government ang proper permiting and standards sa mga nagbabalak magsolar.

Ito ang dahilan...

04/05/2026

Tatlong dahilan kung bakit patuloy na nagmamahal ang solar:

1. Supply and Demand
2. Global Supply chain
3. Peso vs. Dollar

26/04/2026

Why After-Sales Support Will Decide Who Survives

The solar industry is growing fast, and at first glance, it looks like a win for everyone—more distributors, more suppliers, more competition, and more affordable systems for clients. But behind this rapid growth is a silent issue that many are not talking about.

Today, many new solar distributors are entering the market. Some are solid and capable, but others are purely sales-driven—focused on closing deals quickly without the proper technical backbone to support long-term operations. They can easily offer warranties during negotiation, but the real question starts after installation: What happens when the system starts to fail?

A solar PV system is not a short-term product. It is a 20 to 30-year investment. Over time, issues are inevitable—equipment degradation, inverter failures, wiring faults, or performance drops. When these problems appear, clients will not remember the sales pitch. They will remember the response time, the technical support, and the ability to fix the issue.

This is where the real challenge begins.

Many distributors today do not have a strong aftersales structure, no dedicated operation and maintenance team, and limited access to spare parts. When warranty claims arise, some become unreachable, while others simply exit the market when conditions become difficult. And when that happens, the burden shifts directly to the contractor or EPC.

Contractors are then forced to either absorb the cost, risk their reputation, or build their own O&M teams just to survive in the long run. Even then, not all issues can be resolved locally without proper manufacturer or distributor support—especially for major replacements.

This is the reality that is slowly shaping the industry:
It is no longer enough to sell solar systems. You must be able to support it for its entire lifetime.

The future of the solar market will not be defined by who sells the most systems, but by who can still stand behind their installations 10, 15, or even 20 years later.

For contractors and developers, the lesson is simple but critical: choose partners not only based on price or promises—but based on long-term capability, technical support, and financial stability.

Because in the end, a solar PV system is not just a product installed today—it is a commitment that lasts for decades.

12/04/2026

Supply < Demand

There is currently no supply in the market, and almost all installers and suppliers are panicking. This situation is causing project delays and increasing the risk of unprofitable outcomes for solar providers, as supply continues to fluctuate and remain unpredictable. Most items have significantly increased by 20–30% compared to their previous market value before demand surged, and no one is certain when prices will stop rising.

The problem arises when a sale is closed without secured supply. In this case, providers are forced to rush and look for available materials, while prices continue to increase over time. As a result, the projected profit gets reduced to breakeven—or worse, turns negative.

That is why most solar providers are hesitant to close deals, as they would be taking on the risk of an unprofitable project.

Solar installers find themselves rejecting clients or making them wait longer as supply runs low

09/04/2026

Off to Cebu for another work-related trip.
Grateful for the opportunity to grow, serve, and deliver.

May God bless this journey and keep us safe every step of the way.