DOE Philippines Unveils 2nd Round Of Microgrid Selection To Power Underserved Areas

The Department of Energy (DOE) continues its mission to improve living conditions in underserved areas across the Philippines with the launch of the 2nd round of Competitive Selection Process (CSP) for Microgrid System Providers (MGSP). This initiative aims to electrify forty-one lots, encompassing seventy-five identified unserved and underserved areas nationwide.

These areas, originally part of the 98 clusters offered during the 1st round of MGSP-CSP in November 2023, are home to 12,212 households. They have been selected based on their higher demand for electricity and more concentrated population, making them viable candidates for microgrid installations.

Under Republic Act No. 11646, known as the Microgrid Systems Act of 2022, the CSP mandates a transparent selection process for MGSPs before they can provide off-grid electricity services. The timeline for this round spans 90 days, covering pre-qualification to contract submission to the Energy Regulatory Commission, ensuring efficient project execution.

The 2023-2032 National Total Electrification Roadmap (NTER) identifies a total of 407 areas, with 285 unserved areas housing 20,103 households and 122 underserved areas with 20,207 households. These regions, often remote, host economic activities crucial for sustainable development, necessitating reliable electricity access.

In the inaugural MGSP-CSP, the Maharlika Consortium clinched eight lots across Cebu, Quezon, and Palawan provinces. Comprising Maharlika Clean Power Holdings, Corp., CleanGrid Partners Pre Ltd. of Singapore, and WEnergy Global Pte Ltd., the consortium plans to deploy hybrid microgrid systems incorporating solar photovoltaic, energy storage, and diesel generators to provide round-the-clock electricity services.

This 2nd round marks a pivotal step towards fulfilling the NTER’s electrification goals, enhancing livelihoods, and promoting economic growth in remote Philippine communities.