Residential and commercial buildings in Pasig City, Metro Manila, the Philippines, on Sunday, May 4, 2025. The Philippines is scheduled to announce its gross domestic product (GDP) figures on May 8. Photographer: Geric Cruz/Bloomberg
MANILA: The Philippine government’s push for more renewables is taking shape, with more than 11,000MW of clean energy capacity expected to be online by 2030.
Based on data from the Department of Energy (DoE), renewables projects would outshine non-renewable developments in terms of additions to the grid.
Solar photovoltaics remain the leading technology with 8,431.19MW of new capacity. Of this, 7,399.73MW is projected to be operational between this year and 2026.
Wind power comes next with 2,233.24MW, slated for commercial operations by this year and next year.
Hydropower, geothermal and biomass are also seen to contribute 847.34MW, 122.22MW and 50.28MW, respectively.
Aside from these, 1,934MW of battery energy storage systems (BESS) might complement the growing clean energy facilities.
BESS is a technology that can store excess output and release it when the grid demands an electricity supply boost.
The Marcos administration has been encouraging investments in renewable energy as it hopes to cut dependence on coal.
From the current 22% share in the power mix, it aims to increase renewables to at least 35%by 2030.
However, non-renewable sources are still set to mark their presence, with about 7,505.74MW of new capacity.
Coal facilities are slated to provide an additional 1,705MW.
The DoE earlier imposed a moratorium on new coal plants to cut carbon emissions and support the government’s push to shift to clean energy.
But it clarified that there was no total ban on developing coal-fired power plants in the country.
Existing and operational facilities that have made commitments for expansion can still pursue these.
Oil-based sources, meanwhile, could chip in 170.74MW.
Natural gas has a bigger promise at 5,630MW.
Of this, 880MW is scheduled for this year and an additional 4,750MW still “to be determined”. — Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
