The Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized both individual leadership and project-level impact in the renewable energy sector, naming Upgrade Energy Philippines (UGEP) president and CEO Ruth Yu-Owen and the Balesin Island solar project among the recipients at the Sustainable Energy Awards (SEA) 2025.

Yu-Owen was cited as the pioneer recipient of the Women in Renewable Energy Award, acknowledging her role in advancing inclusive participation in the country’s clean energy transition. The recognition highlights her leadership at UGEP and the rollout of Solar Nanay, a women-focused training initiative launched in December 2024.

Solar Nanay trains Filipino mothers in solar panel installation, cleaning, and maintenance—skills typically dominated by male workers—while creating local livelihood opportunities that allow participants to remain with their families. The program began in Lipa City, Batangas, and has since expanded to Cuyo, Palawan, positioning community-based workforce development as part of the broader renewable energy value chain.

DOE conferred Special Recognition on Aboitiz Upgrade Solar Inc. (AUSI) for the Balesin Island Solar Power Plant, a 4.1-megawatt-peak (MWp) facility integrated with a 5.5-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system. The project serves Balesin Island in Quezon province and was recognized under the category for renewable energy projects in off-grid areas.

AUSI is a joint venture between Aboitiz Power Distributed Renewables, Inc. and UGEP. The company partnered with Alphaland Corporation’s Balesin Island to develop the three-hectare, ground-mounted solar farm, aimed at reducing reliance on diesel generation while improving energy reliability in an island setting.

The awards were part of the DOE’s annual Sustainable Energy Awards program, which recognizes projects, institutions, local governments, and individuals contributing to renewable energy deployment and sustainable practices nationwide. Other awardees this year included geothermal, hydro, solar, financing, private sector, and local government initiatives across on-grid and off-grid areas.

What do these recognitions signal for the next phase of renewable energy development in the Philippines—particularly for off-grid solutions and workforce inclusion? Share your views.

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