Win to file energy transition bill soon

Senate energy committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian is set to file the renewable energy (RE) transition bill that aims to step up RE projects in the country.

Speaking at The Philippine Renewable Energy Virtual Conference, Gatchalian stressed the need to initiate the renewable energy transition in a recent virtual conference, stressing that RE generation has steadily increased and that the time is right to maximize its potential.

“Our share of RE is quite significant for a Southeast Asian country compared to other [ASEAN] countries. We will need around 66,000 MW of additional capacity by 2040 and a half can be RE,” he said

“[The Department of Energy] has already declared a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants – a welcome development especially in the discussion of COP26. The country is looking seriously in phasing out coal. We need to jumpstart our energy transition strategy. This [moratorium] is only one facet of the energy transition and I will be filing the country’s first energy transition bill itemizing the process of discussion in the energy transition and also the timetable on when the energy transition will start and of course, hit its goal,” he added.

Gatchalian is optimistic about the future of RE in the country, stressing the need to tap other technologies to improve the process of electrification.

The Philippines, through the Department of Finance, partnered with the Asian Development Bank and the Indonesian government during COP26 for the implementation of the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM), a scheme in which coal plants would be bought out for repurposing into RE facilities.

Prior to COP26, Ayala-led ACEN announced that it will be utilizing the ETM for the early retirement of its 270-megawatt South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation coal plant in Calaca, Batangas.

Power Philippines is the official media partner of The Philippine Renewable Energy Virtual Conference.