The Department of Energy (DoE) has approved nearly 147 energy providers with a combined capacity of 2,619 MW to supply renewable energy (RE) to customers in the Philippines under its renewable portfolio standards (RPS). Out of the total, 62 are solar energy companies with a combined capacity of 1,312.96 MW which accounts for more than half of the total eligible capacity. The remaining capacity has been allocated to 36 biomass firms, 36 hydro power facilities, seven wind farms, and six geothermal power plants.
Some of the major projects under the RPS program, includes the EDC Burgos Wind Power Corporation-owned 150 MW wind farm in Ilocos Norte, Bac-man Geothermal Incorporated’s 140 MW geothermal plant in Sorsogon province, Helios Solar Energy Corporation’s 132.5 MW solar farm in Cadiz City, SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet Incorporated’s 104.55 MW hydro power plant in Benguet and Solar Philippines Tarlac Corporation’s 100.613 MW solar farm in Tarlac.
RPS is a policy mechanism under the Renewable Energy Act 2008 that mandates that distribution utilities (DU) and retail electricity providers (RES) source a certain percent of their net energy sales from approved RE plants.
This programme is aimed at increasing private sector participation in the power generation sector through renewables, to support the Government of Philippines’ target to secure a 35 renewable RE share in the country’s total energy mix by 2030.
