‘The Philippines’ total technical potential for offshore wind is estimated at 178 GW.’
Technologies in the power sector are fast evolving globally.
Under the current leadership of Secretary Raphael Lotilla, the Department of Energy (DOE) has issued policies that empower the utilization of new and unconventional power sources, one of which is hydrogen fuel.
Current draft circulars seek to include the exploration, development and utilization of native hydrogen to contribute to the country’s energy security, job creation, as well as wealth generation.
Specifically, the Philippines hopes to harness the potential of hydrogen be co-fired with natural gas for cleaner combustion.
Last year, the National Power Corp. also signed an agreement with the German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the conduct of feasibility studies on the use of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in off-grid areas of the Philippines.
The DOE has also empowered the development of offshore wind power projects.
The Philippine offshore wind roadmap released in April 2022 by the DOE and the World Bank Group, estimated that the country has the potential to install 21 gigawatts (GW) in the high growth potential offshore wind power by 2040.
The study said the Philippines’ total technical potential for offshore wind is estimated at 178 GW.
To date, the DOE has awarded 82 offshore wind projects, with a potential capacity of 63.359 GW. These projects are located north of Luzon, west of Metro Manila, north and south of Mindoro, Panay and Guimaras Strait.
The DOE is also promoting investments in floating solar projects, sweetening this with incentives at the second Green Energy Auction program.
The country’s only operating floating solar project is the 200 kilowatts facility owned and operated by SN Aboitiz Power Group in Isabela.
The company is finalizing a planned capacity expansion of its floating solar energy asset with a total capacity of 10 to 60 megawatts (MW).
Although not a completely new technology, nuclear energy is also being eyed.
Among all fairly new technologies that were integrated in the local power sector, energy storage systems (ESS) can be considered the most widespread.
According to data from the DOE, as of end-October 2023, total capacity of battery ESS in the country is at 341 MW while hybrid battery-diesel ESS is at 49 MW.
