Government identifies key challenges to renewable energy roadmap

MANILA, Philippines — Key challenges will have to be addressed in order to boost the country’s transition toward clean energy, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

The DOE, in its updated National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) 2020-2040, said addressing the complex and tedious permitting and licensing procedures would be imperative for renewable energy (RE) projects to materialize.

Timely availability of infrastructure in the whole power supply chain, particularly transmission and distribution, is also seen critical in delivering and integrating all the upcoming RE generation capacities.

The DOE said the financial sector is likewise an important catalyst for RE development by providing the needed capital.

“Hence, giving preferential support to RE investments and aligning the financing framework and requirements with the current power industry structure will be necessary,” the agency said.

“Likewise, policy and regulatory support must be effectively put in place to create an enabling environment and advance the developments in the country’s RE industry,” it said.

As of end 2021, the DOE said a total of 901 megawatts (MW) committed RE power generation projects are expected to be operational from this year to 2027.

Projects labeled as “committed” are already in the advanced stage of development, with firm target commercial operation dates.

Comprising more than half of these committed projects are solar at 489 MW, followed by hydro at 232 MW, geothermal at 116 MW, and biomass at 65 MW.

Majority of these RE capacities will be built in Luzon at 694 MW, followed by Mindanao at 114 MW, and Visayas at 94 MW.

A total of 27,334-MW indicative RE power generation projects, meanwhile, may be operational from 2022 to 2032, according to the DOE.

Indicative projects refer to those which are still in the early stage of development with no firm commercial operation dates yet.

Based on the NREP 2020-2040, the updated target is at least 35 RE share in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040 to achieve energy security, sustainable development, and inclusive growth, and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

To realize these targets, the DOE said the updated NREP employs a whole-of-nation approach enjoining government institutions, energy agencies, private sector, international development organizations, and all stakeholders.