The Department of Energy (DOE) welcomed the energization of the first 250 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity and 450 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage by MTerra Solar, marking a critical step toward strengthening the country’s energy security amid continued volatility in global oil markets driven by developments in the Middle East.
“Every megawatt of domestic capacity that we bring into the grid strengthens our ability to withstand external shocks, protect consumers, and preserve system reliability,” said Secretary Garin. “Amid the Middle East conflict, accelerating the development of renewable energy and storage is both a strategic necessity and a national imperative.”
The milestone comes at a time when the Philippines, a net importer of oil, coal, and liquefied natural gas (LNG), continues to face global price shocks that directly impact electricity costs and power system reliability, particularly for generation facilities dependent on imported fuels. The DOE emphasized that expanding clean, renewable, and reliable energy capacity is key to reducing exposure to global price movements in the energy sector and protecting Filipino consumers.
The DOE will continue to fast-track the development and integration of renewable energy and storage projects in close coordination with the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), and other power sector stakeholders.
As global fuel markets remain uncertain, the Department maintains that a more diversified, resilient, and domestically anchored energy system is indispensable to securing long-term energy stability and safeguarding the Filipino people.
