The country’s total installed on-grid power capacity grew by 5 percent at the end of 2022 compared to 2021, with coal still dominating the power mix, according to data from the Department of Energy (DOE).
Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the Philippines is still on track to reach 35 percent and 50 percent target capacity for renewable energy (RE) share by 2030 and 2040, respectively.
The country’s total installed on-grid capacity last year was recorded at 28,258 megawatts (MW) against 2021’s 26,882 MW.
Coal continues to lead the power mix with an installed capacity of 12,428 MW, up 6.5 percent from 11,669 MW, with an overall share of 43.9 percent for the period.
Installed capacity from oil-based power plants followed with a total of 3,834 MW, a 0.34 percent decrease from 3,847 MW with an overall share of 13.6 percent of the power mix.
Hydroelectric power plants with 3,745 MW came next in ranking but recorded a 0.19 percent drop from the previous year’s 3,752 MW. Its overall share in the mix is at 13.3 percent.
Meanwhile, installed capacity from natural gas-fired power plants went up by 8 percent to 3,732 MW from 3,453 MW with an overall share to the mix of 13 percent as total capacity of geothermal power plants increased by 1.24 percent to 1,952 MW from 1,928 MW for an overall share of 6.9 percent.
Solar power plants’ capacity totaled to 1,530 MW for the period from 1,317 MW, equivalent to a 16 percent upward change paired with an overall share of 5.4 percent in the power mix.
Capacity contribution of biomass power plants also moved up to 611 MW from 489 MW, a 24.9 percent increase which is the biggest improvement among all sources with its share to the power mix now at 2.16 percent.
The total installed capacity of wind power plants remained stagnant at 427 MW with its share to the total power mix now at 1.5 percent.
Lotilla said in a video uploaded by the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. last week among the government’s steps to achieve RE targets include the Green Energy Auction and the Renewable Portfolio Standard that creates a sure market for renewable energy projects.
“We are looking at RE complementing the conventional sources of power as we aspire for more clean energy sources,” Lotilla said.
Lotilla added the wholesale electricity spot market will play an important role in making the Philippines’ energy sector competitive since it is mostly under the control of the private sector.
“The energy sector is largely in private hands and therefore we need to promote competition and transparency especially in the market and pro-competitive behavior is important to ensure that indeed competition forces will be at work in order to bring affordable prices to our people including industry and manufacturing that creates jobs,” Lotilla said.
