Philippines to Add 5,600 MW Power in 2025, Mostly Renewables

The Philippines is set to add 5,632 megawatts (MW) of new power capacity by the end of 2025, with renewable energy sources accounting for over 75 percent of the total, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

Data released March 31 by the DOE show that solar and wind will drive the country’s power expansion, contributing 3,455 MW and 558 MW respectively, followed by hydropower, geothermal and biomass.

Non-renewable energy will add 1,401 MW, primarily from natural gas (880 MW) and coal (356 MW), while battery energy storage systems (BESS) will provide 400 MW to stabilize the grid and support variable renewable sources.

Luzon will receive the lion’s share of the new capacity with 4,469 MW expected, including 3,228 MW from renewables—mainly solar (2,609 MW) and wind (544 MW).

Visayas is projected to gain 932 MW, nearly all from renewable energy, while Mindanao will add 232 MW, with solar leading its energy mix.

“This is the kind of scale we need to meet our energy transition goals and ensure energy security,” Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said in an interview following the release.

According to Lotilla, the projected capacity growth reflects the government’s commitment to clean energy under the updated Philippine Energy Plan, which targets a 35 percent renewable share in the power mix by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

The DOE said a total of 19,190 MW in committed capacity is expected nationwide from 2025 to 2030, with 5,998 MW scheduled for 2026 and more projects underway through the decade.

“This surge is not just about volume but direction,” said DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau Director Mylene Capongcol. “More than three-fourths of our new capacity in 2025 will come from renewables. That says a lot about where we’re headed.”

She added that improved investor confidence and recent policy reforms, including the Renewable Energy Act amendments allowing 100 percent foreign ownership, have accelerated project rollouts.

BESS installations, the DOE said, are expected to grow beyond the initial 400 MW in 2025, with more hybrid projects being proposed to pair renewables with storage for better reliability.

The expansion is seen as vital in addressing rising electricity demand and reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels, especially amid volatile global energy markets.

As of the end of 2023, the Philippines had over 28,000 MW of installed capacity, of which around 22 percent came from renewable energy, according to DOE data.

The new additions in 2025 would represent a nearly 20 percent increase over current capacity, significantly bolstering the country’s shift toward a low-carbon power system.