DOE, DENR enter into an agreement to promote offshore wind projects

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MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) signed an agreement on Friday to provide renewable energy producers access to offshore areas that can be explored for wind power production.

“This MOA (memorandum of agreement) is a crucial step in realizing the goal of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to deliver the first kilowatt-hours from offshore wind projects by 2028,” said Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla.

“By streamlining the process for accessing critical areas, we are paving the way for a rapid and responsible rollout of offshore wind projects, which will contribute significantly to our clean energy transition,” he added.

Under the current setup, investors have to secure a multitude of clearances and take several steps before they can access areas that they believe have the potential to host wind power plants.

But with the agreement, the red tape will be cut to a minimum.

The DOE and DENR said while they want to shorten the process, they will ensure that “environmental safeguards are in place at every stage.”

The MOA also provides that if the exploration area falls within an environmentally critical zone or is subject to prior vested rights, the DENR may impose additional conditions or deny access altogether.

The DOE is optimistic that with these deals, the Philippines is “now better positioned” to entice more investments in the local offshore wind market.