Philippines’ President Sets Island-Country’s Offshore Wind Development in Motion

Philippines is gaining momentum in setting up renewables in the country. Recently, the President of Philipines R. Marcos Jr., directed Department of Energy to map a  policy and design administrative framework for offshore wind development and to begin work related to grid development.

With this, it is expected that it will accelerate offshore wind development in the Philippines and contribute to reaching the country’s targets of 35 per cent of renewable energy in its energy generation mix by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2040. Presently, it is reported to have 22 per cent of renewables feeding electricity into its grid.

The policy and framework has to be made by the DOE  in two months for the optimal development of the country’s offshore wind resources. The framework will be made applicable to all permitting agencies which include, among others, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Biodiversity Management Bureau, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the Energy Regulatory Commission.  The permitting agencies  will have to submit a complete list of relevant permits required by each agency to the DOE, within 60 days from when the Order was issued.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will also submit a complete list of appropriate permits required by local government units. The DILG will then share the standard list of permits for offshore wind development activities with local governments 15 days from the confirmation by the DOE that the list is complete and suitable for integration into the country’s Energy Virtual One-Stop Shop (EVOSS) platform.

The Philippines’ EVOSS platform is a web-based monitoring system for energy applications and  a single decision-making portal for actions on applications for permits or certifications. The Department of Energy said the Order would provide clarity and streamline permitting processes and offshore wind leasing fees under a whole-of-government approach and fully implement the EVOSS System to cover all relevant government agencies and bureaus.

In a press release, the DOE said that it had awarded 63 offshore wind contracts so far, with a total potential capacity of 49.928 GW, which will fulfill the needs of the country’s future electricity demand.

Last month, DOE said there were 57 Offshore Wind (OSW) Service Contracts (SCs) with a total potential capacity of about 42 GW awarded to that date. This is an increase of almost 8 GW from  the last month,.

“With heightened investor interest in energy projects, especially in renewable energy, it is crucial to have a clear framework that would speed up the development of OSW and speed up approvals of necessary permits. We will work together with the concerned government agencies. local government units, and the transmission concessionaire to implement the President’s directive,” Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla said.

Last month DOE signed three 25-years Offshore Wind Service Contracts with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), through its New Markets Fund, for three offshore wind farms totalling 2 GW in capacity.