Myanmar turns to solar as power crisis deepens

GLNM

Myanmar is embracing solar energy on an unprecedented scale as its war‑torn power grid collapses. Hospitals, schools, shops and households are installing panels to cope with chronic blackouts, a trend driven by necessity rather than climate ambition.

The country’s electricity supply has deteriorated sharply since the 2021 military coup and ensuing civil war. Western sanctions have restricted access to spare parts and technical expertise, while a shortage of natural gas — Myanmar’s main fuel for generation — has left the grid unable to meet demand. The World Bank estimates operating capacity fell back to 2015 levels last year, describing conditions in conflict‑affected areas as “catastrophic”.

Cheap panels from China are filling the gap. Imports have more than doubled this year to around $100 million, according to customs data, with shipments rising eightfold compared to pre‑pandemic levels. Analysts say three out of four people in some border towns now rely on solar, with businesses often using multiple units to keep refrigerators, lighting and electronic payments running.

Household installations have surged from a few hundred in 2019 to about 300,000 in 2025. A basic solar‑plus‑battery system costs under $1,000, far cheaper than diesel generators that can reach $7,000 plus weekly fuel bills. Energy firms predict solar could eventually power up to 2.5 million homes.

The boom mirrors trends in other fragile states such as Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan, where unreliable grids have pushed residents to take matters into their own hands. Experts warn this shift could disrupt traditional utility models and complicate grid management, but for Myanmar’s people the priority is survival.

As one resident in Bago put it: “It is not like we are using them for clean energy or for some environmental reasons. We are a country with civil war. We are just using them out of necessity."

-2025-11-16