How many microgrids are there in the Philippines?

The Philippines Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded contracts for eight microgrids in unserved areas, including hybrid systems with solar and energy storage, as well as diesel gensets. Plans are now underway for a second competitive bidding round to develop microgrids in other areas without electricity access.

Are solar micro-grids a solution to the Philippines' energy crisis?

The Philippines is facing an energy crisis, and solar micro-grids are a part of the mix of solutions needed to supply our nation’s power. “In the Philippines, almost 1.3 million households could face power outages in 2023 due to a lack of funding from the National Power Corporation,” Energy Tracker Asia reports.

Where will Hybrid microgrids be built in the Philippines?

A consortium of three companies will build the hybrid microgrids in three off-grid areas of the country. A remote area in the Philippine province of Palawan. (Source: Sean Hsu / Shutterstock.com) Nearly 4 million Filipino households are either unserved or underserved by the nation’s power grid.

Are microgrids a good idea in the Philippines?

Microgrids are relatively new to the Philippines. Gaining of technical expertise and experience has just started. Economies of scale, particularly for battery storage, must be achieved in order to bring down the overall cost. Benchmarking with other Microgrid developers from other countries will help increase know-how.

Are off grid electrification systems sustainable in the Philippines?

In the Philippines, most of the existing off grid electrification which are not under SPUG and QTP schemes, are not sustainable. Generation systems, such as diesel generators or small solar home systems, usually fail after a few years of operation due to poor product quality or lack of maintenance.

What are the requirements for a hybrid microgrid system?

The hybrid microgrid systems, which are expected to include solar, energy storage and diesel generators, must provide 24/7 electricity to the areas served. They also must be operational within 18 months of the contract signing with National Power Corporation, the government-owned grid operator in the Philippines.