Knowledge Hub

In 2023, REI Philippines conducted a situational analysis of the ecological and social impacts that may emerge with the scaling of renewable energy. This culminated in the first report, exploring: 

1. How these impacts are currently governed 

2. How market actors respond to these impacts, and, 

3. How the Initiative might effectively contribute towards creating a renewable energy system that is more socially just and ecologically sound. 

This publication reports on the effects of preferential dispatch of all existing geothermal, biomass, and impounding hydroelectric power plants, in strengthening the Philippine's energy self-sufficiency. Findings show that preferential dispatch for all renewable energy (RE) will increase the use of indigenous RE resources, diversify the energy mix, and reduce market clearing prices in the spot market.

The Preferential Dispatch report serves as evidence to the Department Circular No. DC2022-10-0031 of the Philippine Department of Energy. The report is authored by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC)

This work compiles and analyzes energy data from various institutions of the Philippine energy sector and other research findings to determine the reliability and viability of coal and variable renewable energy (vRE) sources in from year to year. 

The findings show that the Philippines no longer needs additional baseload coal, a power source that has proved to be unreliable in overcapacity and incompatible with the country’s power system.Additional flexibility in the baseload can be provided by using variable renewable energy sources, which are highly available, predictable, and can be maximized with the appropriate system design and policies. 

The TARGET report is authored and published by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), led by the team of Jephraim Manansala and Marion Lois Tan. 

‘Baseload’ is a characteristic of power demand, not of a specific supply technology. The demand for baseload electricity can actually be met by any combination of generation sources, including variable renewable energy.

This publication is a policy brief about the energy sector planning in the Philippines.