DOE urges more public-private partnerships for renewable energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) is urging increased collaboration between the public and private sectors to help the Philippines meet its renewable energy (RE) targets, a senior official said following the commissioning of a new solar facility in Bataan.

During the launch of the 41.92-megawatt (MW) Samal Solar Renewable Energy Project on Tuesday, Energy Assistant Secretary Mylene Capongcol emphasized the critical role of partnerships in achieving the government’s target of increasing RE’s share in the national energy mix to 35 percent by 2030.

“This solar project is a testament to the transformative power of renewable energy,” Capongcol said. “It not only provides clean power but also fuels local development through employment and capacity building. This is the kind of sustainable, inclusive progress we are working to achieve nationwide.”

The Samal Solar Renewable Energy Corporation, which operates the plant, will feed nearly 42 MW of clean energy into the Luzon grid, contributing to the country’s growing portfolio of low-carbon energy sources.

According to DOE data, as of April 2025, the Philippines had 1,392 active renewable energy contracts, representing a total installed capacity of 7.05 gigawatts. These projects include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy sources.

Capongcol said that public-private partnerships (PPPs) would be pivotal in expanding these figures and bringing in much-needed investment, innovation, and technical expertise.

The DOE has been working to streamline investment procedures and regulatory frameworks in recent years to accelerate renewable energy development. The agency also continues to highlight RE’s potential not just for sustainability but for stimulating job creation and boosting local economies.

The call for increased cooperation comes amid growing domestic and international interest in the Philippines’ renewable energy sector, especially following the lifting of foreign ownership restrictions on RE projects in 2022.

With less than five years left to meet its 2030 targets, the DOE said it remains committed to fostering an enabling environment for clean energy expansion.