The Department of Energy (DOE) is crafting with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) a smarter and cleaner power plan to ensure the seamless integration of additional renewable energy (RE) capacity into the grid.
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla, at the Giga Summit hosted by the Manila Electric Co. in Makati City said the plan serves as basis for NGCP’s transmission development plan.
According to Lotilla, the DOE has programs looking at the potential of alternative fuels and emerging technologies as hydrogen, ammonia, tidal energy, an expanded solar rooftop program and even improvements in solid waste management.
The DOE supports policies developing offshore-wind, taking into account the streamlining and stricter timeframe set forth in the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop law on the processing and issuance of licenses and permits by concerned national and local government entities.
Such are important in allowing the country to attain its RE targets, Lotilla said.
The DOE also helps in mainstreaming electric vehicles via the registration and accreditation of charging stations to ensure safety and operational standards, promote transparency and fair pricing, as well as standard classification for purposes of incentive eligibility.
The agency targets a minimum 35 percent RE share in the power mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
As at end-2022, the installed on-grid capacity from geothermal, hydro, biomass, solar and wind energy sources total 8,264 megawatts or 29.24 percent of the 28,258 MW installed on-grid capacity in the Philippines, excluding battery storage and diesel-battery hybrid systems.
The DOE is also conducting public consultations for the draft Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2023-2050 that looks to accelerate RE development in the country.
Lotilla said the plan encourages the adoption of modern technologies, smart grid systems, and demand-side management to bring down energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions in various sectors and reduce energy intensity in the production of goods and services.
