To hit an ambitious energy mix goal, PH needs 53,000 MW of clean power

ILOILO CITY — The Philippines needs almost 53,000 megawatts (MW) of new renewable energy capacity to achieve the government target of a bigger share in the energy mix.

Based on simulations from the Department of Energy (DOE), a total of 52,826 MW of additional clean energy capacity is needed by 2040 to attain the goal under the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) policy. This is nearly seven times higher than the current level of 8,264 MW.

Breaking down the estimated capacity, 27,162 MW should come from solar projects, 16,650 MW from wind power projects, 6,150 MW from hydropower and 2,500 MW from geothermal.

If attained, the renewable energy share in the power generation mix would increase to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 as spelled out in the energy plan.

READ: PH dismantling barriers to renewable energy boom

Coal-fired plants still dominate the power generation mix currently, accounting for more than 50 percent of the total.

“Please note that this simulation does not include yet the share of nuclear energy as envisioned in the clean energy scenario one and clean energy scenario two,” Energy Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol said in her presentation during the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines’ event here.

Clean energy scenarios

The clean energy scenarios that Capongcol is referring to are the targets set in the Philippine Energy Plan (PEP), or the upper end of the targets outlined in the road map that calls for higher renewable share in the energy mix. The DOE is still finalizing the targets under a revised PEP.

RPS is one of the mechanisms introduced by the DOE to scale up the utilization of renewables in the Philippines under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. This policy mandates electricity suppliers to source a portion of their annual energy requirement from eligible renewable energy sources.

READ: DOE paves way for nuclear energy adoption

Last year, the DOE issued a separate policy that more than doubled the renewable energy utilization in grid-linked areas to 2.52 percent from 1 percent.

The circular also mandated an annual review of percentage increments to monitor compliance and adjustments in case of constraints in the timely completion of eligible renewable energy plants.

Aside from the RPS, other programs aimed at promoting the use of cleaner sources of energy include the green energy auction program, net metering and expanded roof-mounted solar program.

“And of course, we’re looking forward to the renewable energy market commercial operations and soon we will be coming out with revised guidelines in the omnibus guidelines for the awarding of the service contract,” Capongcol said. INQ