Renewable energy (RE) is projected to start dominating the Philippines’ power generation mix by 2028, as several new coal-fired power plants are slated to become operational within the next three years.
In a report by the Philippine Star, Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said that there are incoming coal power plants in Masinloc and Mariveles.
She clarified that these projects were proposed and approved before the coal moratorium was implemented in late 2020, which halted the processing of applications for new coal facilities.
Guevara stressed that developing power plants takes time, and coal developments approved before the moratorium can’t be stopped.
As of May 31, data from the Department of Energy (DOE) indicated that nine coal-fired power projects with a combined installed capacity of 2,255 megawatts (MW) are expected to enhance the country’s main power grids.
Of these, five are located in Mariveles, Bataan, two in Masinloc, Zambales, and one each in Iloilo and Misamis Oriental.
The DOE Undersecretary noted that renewable energy will overtake coal by 2028 as more offshore wind projects are expected to come in.
Currently, coal supplies 62 percent of the country’s power generation, while renewables account for only 22 percent, despite having a 30 percent share of dependable capacity.
