Manila: The bid to ensure the availability of clean and sustainable power gained traction this year as the Department of Energy (DOE) pursued programs that encourage more investments into renewable energy (RE). The share of RE to the total energy mix is already around 32 percent, near the 35 percent goal by 2030. The target is to further increase this to 50 percent by 2040.
According to Philippines News Agency, DOE earlier said around 956 megawatts (MW) of new power generation capacity have been added to the national grid as of last November, complemented by 16 MW of new energy storage capacity in the Luzon and Visayas grids. Last June, DOE released the Notice of Award (NOA) for the winning bidders for the GEA-3, which are expected to produce around 6,600 MW capacity until 2035, while winners for the GEA-4 were announced last November, with the projects expected to produce over 10,000 MW of new capacities until 2029.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin has expressed confidence in the sustained rise of RE capacity in the country following the two green energy auctions (GEA) held this year. This optimism persists amidst the termination of eight RE service constraints this year due to proponents' failure to deliver or submit work program requirements. Citing measures implemented during the term of former Energy Secretary Rafael Lotilla, Garin highlighted the strong foundation laid by the DOE and emphasized its continuation.
A big part of the country suffered from devastating calamities this year. Garin noted that lessons from these experiences will be strengthened further next year. She praised the DOE's quick response in typhoon-affected areas, pointing out improvements in restoration times as compared to previous years.
Garin attributed these improvements to closer coordination among energy-sector players such as the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the Philippine Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (Philreca), distribution utilities, power plant operators, National Power Corporation (Napocor), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). She also acknowledged the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) as a major player in the sector's ongoing improvement.
Looking ahead to 2026, the DOE plans to focus on cleaner energy and energy security, aiming to reduce reliance on coal and diesel, especially in island regions where renewables currently account for around 7 percent. More indigenous sources will be explored, emphasizing the need for additional gas and petroleum potentials to reduce dependence on the international market.
In the realm of electrification, NEA Administrator Antonio Mariano Almeda advocated for additional measures to uplift rural communities, underscoring the importance of improved and reliable services. This year, NEA achieved electrification of geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) under the 'Digital Bayanihan' campaign. The initiative benefited schools in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd), including Datu Saldong Domino Elementary School in Agusan del Norte.
NEA also addressed power reliability issues in Zamboanga by establishing the Task Force Metro Zamboanga to reform the Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ZAMCELCO). Additionally, NEA collaborated with the DOE and Napocor to implement measures addressing chronic power supply constraints and entered into a memorandum of agreement to modernize Palawan's power distribution system with the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) and other local entities.
