18 June 2025
Stakeholders Unite to Power Off-Grid Communities with Renewable Energy at the Philippine Power and Innovation Summit
Stakeholders Unite to Power Off-Grid Communities with Renewable Energy at the Philippine Power and Innovation Summit
18 June 2025, Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Power Investment and Innovation Summit: Unlocking the Potential of Off-Grid Areas, held on May 29, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the Philippines’ drive in providing sustainable energy access to the country’s most remote regions. Hosted by Climate Smart Ventures (CSV) in collaboration with the National Electrification Administration (NEA), the summit brought together a diverse group of stakeholders from the government, the private sector including financial institutions and developers, and electric cooperatives.
The summit underscored a powerful united effort and commitment from all sectors to advance renewable energy (RE) for off-grid areas. It explored how key stakeholders in the Philippine power sector can become catalysts for economic growth, investment opportunities, infrastructure development, and technological innovation, ultimately accelerating the transition to clean energy nationwide.
The summit was a key component of a three-year capacity-building initiative on Enhancing the Resilience of Off-Grid Areas in the Philippines through Modernization and Hybridization. Leading up to the summit, significant milestones were achieved including the development and launch of the Grid Modernization and Hybridization Guidebook, a comprehensive resource for understanding and implementing off-grid hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES), Additionally, a series of interactive workshops across country were conducted, equipping the ECs with essential expertise and practical skills in off-grid hybridization.
CSV Head of Transaction Advisory Matthew Carpio opened the summit emphasizing that collective efforts are crucial to accelerate the adoption of innovative renewable energy solutions in the Philippines’ off-grid communities. Following this, the summit’s morning session featured a Strategic Partnership Forum, divided into two parts:
- Business-to-Business (B2B) matchmaking session where ECs presented their pipeline of RE projects and funding needs
- Synthesis Roundtable facilitated discussions between potential partners from financial institutions and private developers offering feedback and expertise to empower ECs in their energy transition efforts
Electric Cooperatives Showcase Pioneering Renewable Energy Projects
During the B2B matchmaking session, three participating ECs delivered comprehensive presentations on their planned RE projects to a panel of financial institutions and RE developers:
- Batangas II Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BATELEC II), as the first presenter and one of CSV’s pilot partners, discussed details of the initial study it conducted exploring HRES feasibility for Tingloy Island in Batangas. BATELEC II envisions up to 4 MWp of solar photovoltaic (PV) power coupled with battery energy storage systems (BESS), to be done in phases, and intended to work in conjunction with the island’s existing diesel generator sets.
their initial study for the feasibility of HRES
- Davao Del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. (DASURECO) presented an innovative biomass project for Sarangani Island in Davao Occidental. Leveraging the abundance of local coconut resources as feedstock, the indicative 200-kW biomass generator system is projected to generate over 500 MWh annually. The project is seen to not only provide clean energy but also create income for the local community, reduce expenses from importing fuel, and significantly minimize carbon emissions.
their initial study for biomass feasibility
- Oriental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ORMECO) proposed a 10-MWp solar power plant in Bansud, Oriental Mindoro, as well as the rehabilitation of the mini-hydroelectric plants in Paitan, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro, to boost RE utilization.
presenting their pipeline of RE projects.
Insights from Government Leaders and Innovators
The Synthesis Roundtable, facilitated by Ivan Mark Galura, Senior Associate of CSV, highlighted valuable context and insights from financial institutions and private developers while offering feedback and expertise to support ECs in their energy transition initiatives . Erel Narida, President of One Renewable Energy Enterprise, Inc., highlighted the urgent need for a paradigm shift in development approaches, emphasizing that “developing the economic activity of an island community” is paramount for financial viability. Panelists also underscored the importance of a borrower’s credibility and how projects can foster community economic development, thereby enhancing their overall viability and sustainability.
Government and policy leaders similarly reinforced their commitment to advancing RE systems, investments, and policies. NEA Administrator Almeda stated, “I want to emphasize that achieving sustainable energy access in off-grid areas is not merely an option, rather, it is an essential step for building resilient communities and ensuring social equity. This pursuit requires the collective effort of stakeholders across various sectors to make it into a reality.” DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan’s keynote message further stressed that universal energy access necessitates collective action and a whole-of-society approach.
The summit also featured a session on Innovations and Best Practices from Off-Grid Electric Cooperatives presented by Silverio Navarro Jr., CSV Senior Advisor for Rural Electrification. He discussed the electrification status of off-grid Philippine areas and highlighted the necessity of HRES, detailing various technologies like solar, BESS, wind, and hydro to improve reliability and reduce emissions. He also presented HRES development case studies across several regions and a sample biomass project, demonstrating the potential for successful hybrid system implementation.
During the afternoon session, the panelists from government and financial institutions further explored the opportunities for investing in off-grid areas and supporting ECs. Aristotle Guardacasa, Department Head of Business Development and Incubation under the Digital Channels Group of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) highlighted the success of BPI’s digital payment partnerships with over 100 ECs, processing thousands of payments, which directly addresses collection efficiency issues. Urgent interventions for cost disparity of power in some areas were also underscored in the session.
The importance of strong feasibility studies and projects being bankable to attract investors was consistently emphasized. It was identified that the community’s vision and willingness to pay were vital factors, necessary for strong engagement with potential investors and aligning project goals with local needs.
Moving Forward: A Shared Commitment to Renewable Energy for Off-Grid Communities
Climate Smart Ventures reinforced its commitment to ongoing initiatives and broader collaboration in establishing renewable energy projects for off-grid areas and championing rural electrification with all stakeholders. Mr. Nian Sayoc, CSV Associate and Project Manager, outlined the project’s future plans, which include engaging more pilot ECs, organizing capacity-building workshops for selected ECs, and conducting B2B matchmaking roadshows in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
At the conclusion of the summit, CSV Senior Advisor Mr. Ping Mendoza delivered closing remarks, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the event. He stated, “We’ve come together, not just to talk about innovation, but to build real bridges. Between the public and private sectors, between knowledge and application, and between those who serve our communities and those who can finance a better future for them. Let us move forward today with confidence that we are not working in silos, but a shared ambition for a better Philippines.”
Further details of the event can be found here.
About Climate Smart Ventures
Climate Smart Ventures (CSV) is an advisory firm advancing the energy transition in Asia. Our expertise and projects span coal to clean utility-level energy transition, industrial decarbonization, grid transformation, transition finance, and government-level policy recommendations. We also provide ESG and sustainability advisory services, focused on decarbonization and management of environmental and social impacts. Ecosystem building and collaboration are key elements of our firm, which partners closely with the region’s leading corporates and power portfolio owners, investors, off-takers, and others. For more information, visit our website https://climatesmartventures.com.
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