Chinese solar panel price collapse to 12c/W drives global rooftop install surge

Chinese-made PV panels have fallen to 12 cents per watt, down from $5-$6 in 2000, triggering a surge in rooftop solar adoption across Pakistan, the Philippines, Africa, and Australia. The price collapse is cutting industrial power costs by up to 40% and nearly doubling Philippine rooftop capacity in a year. This accelerates the global energy transition, with implications for fossil fuel demand and grid infrastructure.