The country’s installed capacity at the grid grew by a meager 0.12 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, with coal still dominating the power mix, data from the Department of Energy (DOE) show.
On-grid capacity total only 28,291 megawatts (MW) last year versus 28,258 MW the year before.
Of the total, coal accounted for 12,406 MW, down 0.18 percent from 12,428 MW or a 44 percent lower to 43.9 percent from 44 percent.
Hydroelectric power accounted for 3,799 MW, a 1.4 percent increase from 3,745 MW, slightly higher to 13.4 percent from 13.3 percent.
On the third and fourth spots were oil-based power plants and natural gas-fired power plants, respectively.
Oil-based power plants accounted for 3,737 MW, 2.5 percent lower than prior year of 3,834 MW or 13.2 percent of the power mix. Natural gas-fired power plants contributed 3,732 MW or 13.2 percent of the power mix.
The contribution of geothermal power plants stayed at 1,952 MW or 6.9 percent of the mix.
Solar power contributed the most to the on-grid capacity with 1,653 MW from 1,530 MW, the segment having grown 8.04 percent that boosted its share of the power mix to 5.8 percent from 5.4 percent.
The capacity contribution of biomass power plants retreated to 585 MW from 611 MW, its share to the power mix dropping to 2.1 percent from 2.2 percent.
As for wind power plants, its contribution to the power mix was unchanged at 427 MW or 1.5 percent of the mix.
Energy storage systems were left out of the power mix but the battery and hybrid technologies contributed 436 MW to the grid, surging 179.5 percent from only 156 MW in 2022, the DOE said.
Installed off-grid capacity in 2023 total 684.666 MW versus only 673.677 MW, or growth of 1.6 percent.
Off-grid, oil-based power plants led the pack with 612.362 MW, up 1.8 percent from 601.373 MW. Its share to the mix also increased to 89.4 percent from 89.3 percent.
Off-grid hydro power plants contributed 30.605 MW equivalent to a share of 4.5 percent. Wind power contributed another 16.560 MW for a share of 2.5 percent. Coal-fired plants generated 15 MW or 2.2 percent share of the mix and solar with 10.139 MW for 1.5 percent.
Off-grid plant contribution from, geothermal and natural gas was nil but the total battery energy storage system capacity in off-grid areas stood at 1.040 MW, the DOE said.
The DOE reiterated the plan to retire coal-fired power plants and replace them with renewable energy generators stays but since the local power sector is market driven and privately-owned, the government’s role as regulator is limited to ensuring there is competition.
The agency also said that since transition costs and the need for greater investment infrastructure is borne fully by an already overburdened electricity consumer, a strategic transition to renewable energy is needed.
The DOE said it favors incentivizing business owners and institutions that transit to the renewable space but that beyond the retirement of coal, access to electricity in remote islands, the improvement of distribution systems, more investments in energy storage systems and making energy affordable for all, are important considerations as well.
