The Department of Energy (DOE) is collaborating with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) in crafting a smart and green grid plan to ensure seamless integration of additional renewable energy (RE) capacity in the grid.
DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla said at the Giga Summit hosted by the Manila Electric Co. in Makati City yesterday the smart and green grid plan would also serve as the basis for the transmission development plan of NGCP.
“The DOE has innovative programs that are looking at the potential of alternative fuels and emerging technologies such as hydrogen and ammonia and even tidal energy as well as working on expanded solar rooftop program and improvement of solid waste management, while enhancing on the policies on the development of 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 the concerned national and local government entities,” Lotilla said.
The DOE noted the importance of attaining the country’s targets of a minimum of 35 percent RE share in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.
As of end-2022, the total installed on-grid capacity from RE composed of geothermal, hydro, biomass, solar and wind technologies stood at 8,264 megawatts (MW) or 29.24 percent of the 28,258 MW overall installed on-grid capacity in the Philippines, excluding battery storage and diesel-battery hybrid systems.
The DOE is also conducting public consultations on the draft Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2023-2050 that focuses on the increased utilization and accelerated RE development.
Lotilla said the PEP encourages the adoption of modern technologies, smart grid systems, and demand-side management to bring down overall energy consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions in various sectors and reduce energy intensity in the production of goods and services.
