The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is finalizing rules for Energy Storage Systems (ESS) that will “define the playing field for the next decade,” ERC Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan said at the first‑ever Energy Storage Summit Asia in Manila on October 7.

The rules will set standards for ownership models, interconnection protocols, safety, and integration into the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), Distribution Code (PDC), and Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM).

“The Philippines has targeted a renewable energy share of 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040,” Chair Juan said. “The challenge is no longer generating clean power, but storing, balancing, and delivering it reliably — day and night, during calm seas or typhoons, across more than 7,000 islands.”

The summit, hosted by the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA), gathered policymakers, developers, and investors from across ASEAN to discuss ESS as a key enabler of grid stability and renewable integration.

The ERC is reviewing the PGC, PDC, and WESM rules to integrate grid‑forming inverters, synthetic inertia, dispatch protocols for storage, distribution‑level interconnection requirements, and smart‑metering standards. Chair Juan highlighted initiatives such as the Kalayaan Pumped Storage Power Plant and storage‑integrated projects under the Green Energy Auction Program as examples of the growing role of ESS.

“Energy storage is no longer a future option, but a necessity,” he said. 

As the ERC finalizes its energy storage rules, how will these affect the Philippines’ ability to meet its renewable energy targets while maintaining grid stability? Share your thoughts.

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