The Department of Energy (DOE) announced the opening of the next wave of Renewable Energy Service Contracts (RESCs), signaling a transformative shift in how the nation integrates clean energy with vital resources.
Moving beyond traditional land-use models, the DOE is introducing a diversified portfolio of “Nexus Projects.” These initiatives prioritize dual-purpose land development, specifically targeting solar-over-canals, low-impact hydropower, and agrivoltaics.
To accelerate this rollout, the DOE has formalized a landmark inter-agency partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). This collaboration aims to bypass traditional bureaucratic bottlenecks and optimize the use of existing infrastructure.
The new wave of service contracts focuses on three core technological frontiers:
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Floating Solar & Canal Covers: Utilizing irrigation canals and water bodies to host solar panels, which reduces water evaporation and eliminates the need for clearing forest or agricultural land.
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Agrivoltaic Systems: A “food-and-energy” approach where solar arrays are designed to allow crops to grow or livestock to graze beneath them, maximizing the economic yield per square meter.
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Integrated Hydropower: Tapping into existing irrigation systems and river networks to provide consistent, baseload power to rural communities.
The DOE’s latest directive is designed to provide a clearer, more predictable pathway for both domestic and international investors. By coordinating with the DA and NIA, the government has pre-identified zones where energy generation and food production can coexist without conflict. “We are no longer choosing between food security and energy security,” stated the DOE. “By layering these technologies onto our existing agricultural and water infrastructure, we are creating a more resilient, efficient, and sustainable economic engine for the Philippines.”
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Optimized Land Use: Protects high-value agricultural land while meeting aggressive renewable energy targets.
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Water Conservation: Solar-over-canal projects significantly reduce evaporation rates in critical irrigation pathways.
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Rural Electrification: Decentralized hydro and solar projects provide more stable power to far-flung farming municipalities.
The DOE invites interested developers and stakeholders to review the updated guidelines for the upcoming bidding round. This initiative marks a definitive step toward the Philippines’ goal of increasing the renewable energy share in the power mix to 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.
