Silliman University (SU) has unveiled the Microgrid and Sustainable Energy Laboratory (MSEL), a Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-funded facility designed to accelerate research and innovation in renewable energy and resilient power systems.

Officially launched on August 20, 2025 at Uytengsu Hall at SU’s College of Engineering and Design in Dumaguete, the laboratory is equipped with advanced tools for microgrid system design, testing, and development. It will serve as a hub for collaborative work on renewable energy integration, microgrid optimization, and disaster resiliency strategies, bridging academia, industry, and communities.

Project leader Dr. Maria Lorena Tuballa explained that microgrids function as small-scale power systems capable of running autonomously. By combining renewable sources such as solar and wind with battery storage, microgrids can maintain essential services during outages—an advantage particularly important in the Philippines, where typhoons often disrupt electricity supply.

The MSEL is also outfitted with custom-built smart microgrids, renewable energy kits, sensors, and weather stations, enabling students and researchers to design solutions that could one day power off-grid communities, schools, and barangays.

According to DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico Paringit, the laboratory offers “an avenue to think about cleaner technologies and making our communities more resilient” at a time when global warnings about unsustainable energy use are becoming more urgent.

SU’s Research, Publication, and Innovation head Dr. Robert Guino-o II added that the facility underscores the shift away from fossil fuels. “MSEL presents an innovative platform for sustainable renewable energy utilization compared to our carbon-based fossil fuels. The age of fossil fuels will be over soon,” he said.

How can microgrid research like this help communities become more resilient against climate change and disasters?

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Photo Credit: SU Website