DOE fast-tracks 200 power projects for 2028 energy security

The Department of Energy said it is accelerating around 200 power generation projects to strengthen the country’s energy security by 2028, citing growing global market uncertainty and rising energy demand.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said 31 of the projects were already operational as of March 2026.

He made the remarks May 26 during the third Energy Forum of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines, held in Makati.

“The DOE is accelerating the construction of 200 power generation projects to strengthen energy security by 2028,” Fuentebella said.

Many of the projects are focused on renewable energy technologies, including solar, hydro, and biomass, he said.

Fuentebella said the Philippines must continue reducing its dependence on imported fuels as global energy markets remain vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, fuel price volatility, and climate-related disruptions.

“Energy security is inseparable from national security,” he said.

The Philippines imports most of its coal and oil, leaving electricity prices exposed to swings in world fuel markets — a vulnerability underscored by recent tensions in the Middle East.

Fuentebella said the agency continues to advance programs under the Philippine Energy Plan, including the Green Energy Auction Program, Renewable Portfolio Standards, and offshore wind development initiatives.

The Green Energy Auction Program is a government mechanism that awards long-term supply contracts to renewable energy developers through competitive bidding, while Renewable Portfolio Standards require electricity suppliers to source a minimum share of their power from renewables.

Fuentebella noted that the DOE conducted renewable energy auction rounds in 2025 covering solar, hydro, wind, and integrated renewable energy and storage technologies for delivery between 2026 and 2029.

He also highlighted the DOE’s offshore wind initiatives, including the launch of the country’s first auction for large-scale fixed-bottom offshore wind technology.

Fixed-bottom offshore wind turbines are anchored directly to the seabed, a more established and lower-cost approach than floating designs used in deeper waters.

Beyond renewable energy expansion, the DOE is pursuing transmission modernization and infrastructure development to support the country’s growing power requirements, Fuentebella said.

He cited the Smart and Green Grid Plan, launched in October 2025, which aims to modernize the country’s transmission network and identify expansion projects needed to accommodate additional renewable energy capacity.

“Strategic infrastructure investments ensure that gains from domestic energy development are sustained reliably and future-proof,” he said.

Fuentebella also discussed reforms aimed at streamlining permitting processes for energy projects.

He said 55 workflows across government agencies have already been integrated into the Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop to improve permitting coordination, transparency, and ease of doing business.

The Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop is an online platform created to consolidate the multiple permits and clearances energy projects require from different agencies into a single system.

The DOE has likewise advanced policies supporting microgrids, offshore wind, energy storage systems, and transmission development as part of efforts to build a more resilient and investment-friendly energy sector.

During the same forum, DOE Secretary Sharon S. Garin emphasized the importance of building an energy system that is “secure, sustainable, resilient, and people-centric.”

“Energy is about people. It’s about improving lives, it’s about enabling economic growth, and it is about the future of our nation,” Garin said.