The Department of Energy (DOE) in the Philippines has recently awarded Certificates of Energy Projects of National Significance (CEPNS) to 149 significant energy initiatives, totaling PHP2.4 trillion in investments from May to December 2024. These projects encompass a broad spectrum of energy solutions, including 91 renewable energy projects that will contribute 17.6 gigawatts of clean energy, alongside four conventional power plants adding 1.5 gigawatts to the national grid. Additionally, the DOE has recognized 29 transmission projects and 24 microgrid system projects as vital to the nation’s energy strategy.
DOE Secretary Raphael Lotilla emphasized the importance of these developments in securing the country’s energy future, stating that these investments not only bolster energy security but also expedite the shift towards a more sustainable and resilient energy framework. The certification process, which was paused in December 2020, resumed in October 2023, with updated guidelines effective from April 2024. These guidelines allow projects valued at PHP3.5 billion or more to receive CEPNS, provided they align with the Philippine Energy Plan.
Among the notable projects certified are the 1,000 MW San Miguel Bay Offshore Wind Power Project by Copenhagen Infrastructure New Market Fund Philippines Corp., the 1,400 MW Pakil Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Project by Ahunan Power, Inc., and the 2,500 MWac Terra Solar Project by Terra Solar Philippines, Inc. Projects with CEPNS benefit from expedited processing and approvals from various governmental and local authorities.
The revised CEPNS framework also automatically qualifies renewable energy projects under the Feed-in Tariff System, those chosen through the Green Energy Auction Program, and initiatives supporting the nation’s energy transition goals in accordance with DOE’s clean energy policies. From 2017 to 2020, the DOE issued CEPNS to 149 projects worth PHP795 billion, with 133 now commercially operational, 16 in pre-development, and others at various stages of progress. The DOE continues to assess more projects under this framework to further enhance the country’s energy security and sustainability.