NREP 2020-2040 §D — Off-Grid, Resource-Specific Programs, and Roadmap
Source: raw/_pdf/planning-docs/nrep-2020-2040.pdf
Chapter: Chapter III, Section A (Framework) — back half + Section B (Roadmap)
Pages: pp. 47–59 (PDF pp. 60–72; offset = 13)
Scope
The back half of Chapter III’s Framework and the short Roadmap section that closes the chapter:
- Section 3: RE for Off-Grid and PURE Strategies (electrification, REPAFS, PURE, SF4RE, microgrids)
- Section 4: Resource-Specific Programs (offshore wind, WTE, ERSP, geothermal FTAA, emerging tech)
- Section B: Roadmap
The front half of Chapter III (Transition Pathways & Enablers) is in Digest: NREP 2020-2040 §C — RE Transition Pathways and Enablers .
Section 3: RE for Off-Grid and PURE Strategies (pp. 47–53)
Context
As of December 2020, national electrification = 94.5% — approximately 1.2 million of 22.9M households unelectrified. Total Electrification Program (TEP) targets 100% by 2040 via three strategies: household wiring subsidies (NIHE), grid extension (SEP/BLEP), and off-grid deployment (standalone solar PV + mini-grids) [NREP 2020-2040, p.47, 2022].
DC2019-01-0001 (25 January 2019) — “Prescribing the Omnibus Guidelines on Enhancing Off-Grid Power Development and Operation”: prescribes phasing-out of UC-ME by exploring alternative funding sources including annual NPC appropriation; Rules 10-11 define alternative funding mechanisms [NREP 2020-2040, pp.47-48, 2022].
3.1 Expanded Household Electrification Program
NEA PV Mainstreaming Program: deploys Solar Home Systems (SHS) to isolated households — 50Wp solar panel, 24Ah battery, 4 LED bulbs, transistor radio, flashlight, mobile phone charging cables. More than 5,000 HHs already provided with SHS. Supported by EU-ASEP [NREP 2020-2040, p.48, 2022].
3.2 REPAFS
DOE-DA MOA signed 6 August 2020 — “RE Program for the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector (REPAFS).” Five components: (1) promotion of RE technologies; (2) R&D; (3) standards for RE-powered machineries/facilities; (4) human resource development; (5) assistance to local manufacturers/fabricators/suppliers. DA current focus: solar-powered irrigation/fertigation, biomass for agri-fishery mechanization, biogas for livestock. As of 15 March 2022: several webinars conducted; 2 project proposals evaluated; REPAFS under finalization [NREP 2020-2040, p.48, 2022].
3.3 PURE
Technologies deployed under PURE deliver energy for livelihood and social services in off-grid/underserved areas — augment household income, provide cold storage for medicines/vaccines, solar/wind streetlights, solar water pumps. Table 13 — ASEP PURE Projects [NREP 2020-2040, Table 13, p.50, 2022]:
| Location | Technology | Incremental Income (PhP/month) |
|---|---|---|
| Mahayag, Mindanao | Crop dryer + corn mill — 2kW solar PV + 10kWh battery | 420 |
| New Mabuhay, Mindanao | 2 Abaca spindle — 1.3kW solar PV + 8kWh battery | 641 |
| Pangasinan | Rice mill — 2.3kW solar PV + 10kWh battery | 850 |
| Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental | Pineapple leaves fiber decorticating machine — solar PV + battery | Ongoing |
3.4 SF4RE
USD 1 million DREAMS sub-facility. 17 approved projects (Figure 21 / Table 14) [NREP 2020-2040, Table 14, pp.51-53, 2022]:
| # | Name / Location | Capacity | Proponent / Partner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smart Grid Solar PV Household Electrification (165 HH) — Cagayancillo, Palawan | 49.25 kW | Palawan Electric Cooperative + Cagayancillo LGU |
| 2 | Solar PV + PURE — Carles, Iloilo | Under dev. | Carles LGU + Iloilo III EC |
| 3 | PURE — Lanao del Sur | Under dev. | Lanao del Sur Provincial Government |
| 4 | Oriental Mindoro Green Energy Pilot (7 municipal bldgs + 7 faith-based bldgs + 1 livelihood center) | 34.2 kW | Oriental Mindoro Provincial Gov’t + WeGen Laudato Si Inc. + Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan |
| 5 | Bun-acan Micro-Hydro Rehabilitation + Irrigation (60 HH) — San Remigio, Antique | 25 kW | Antique Provincial Gov’t + San Remigio LGU + Brgy. Panpanan I |
| 6 | MMSU Solar Powered Aquatic Life Support System | 22 kW | Mariano Marcos State University |
| 7 | Potable Water Systems (128 HH) — Tapaz, Capiz | 6.48 kW | Tapaz LGU |
| 8 | Mini-Hydro Plant Rehabilitation (11,035 HH) — Lawaan, Samar | 1 MW | Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative |
| 9 | Micro-Hydro Plant Rehabilitation (9,984 HH) — Ajuy, Iloilo | 45 kW | Ajuy LGU + Iloilo III EC |
| 10 | Micro-Hydro Rehabilitation (62 HH + 5 community facilities) — Upper Katablangan, Apayao | 10 kW | Katablangan Indigenous Farmers Association |
| 11 | Smart Grid Solar PV System (300 HH) — Burdeos, Quezon | 42.84 kW | Entrepreneurs du Monde + Quezon II EC |
| 12 | Solar PV Powered Bioethanol Distiller (3 barangays) — Aparri, Cagayan | 36 kW | Aparri LGU + MMSU |
| 13 | Solar PV Rooftop — Iloilo Provincial Hospital | 75 kW | Iloilo Provincial Government + Iloilo II EC |
| 14 | Smart Grid Solar PV + Irrigation (120 HH) — Brgy. Apurawan, Aborlan, Palawan | 29.3 kW | Aborlan LGU + Palawan EC |
| 15 | Potable Water Systems (820 HH) — Goa, Camarines Sur | 20 kW | Goa LGU |
| 16 | Community Solar PV Mini-Grid (357 HH) — Pamilacan, Bohol | 39.65 kW | [not listed in extracted text] |
| 17 | Solar PV Rooftop (10 LGU buildings) — Concepcion, Iloilo | 95 kW | [not listed in extracted text] |
SF4RE project objectives: (A) Rural household electrification; (B) PURE/livelihood development; (C) RE delivery of social services; (D) Compliance and promotion of RE Act; (E) Climate resiliency.
3.5 Microgrids
RA 11646 (signed 21 January 2022 per NREP; effective 24 January 2022 per other sources) — Microgrid Systems Act: Section 2(d) declares State policy of “competitive environment for different kinds of energy sources while prioritizing low-cost, indigenous, renewable, and environment-friendly sources.” Expected to spur RE development particularly in off-grid areas [NREP 2020-2040, p.53, 2022].
Box 1 — EC Mini-Grid Examples [NREP 2020-2040, p.53, 2022]:
- ROMELCO (Romblon Electric Cooperative) hybridized Cobrador Island diesel mini-grid with 30kWp solar PV + 180kWh ESS: achieved 24/7 service (vs. 8 hours diesel-only); tariff halved from PhP30/kWh → PhP15/kWh; connections grew from 161 → 260 HH (partially ADB/ROMELCO co-funded)
- ANTECO (Antique Electric Cooperative) — Malalison Island: 50kWp solar PV + 273kWh battery: 24/7 service; implemented prepaid billing with smart meters
- 4 QTPs all use solar PV hybrid mini-grids in their service areas
- Busuanga Island Electric Cooperative (BIEC) — mesh solar grid in San Isidro Island Barangay: SHS connected as mesh grid; smart controller automatically redistributes excess energy; innovative model combining BIEC + EC + community partnerships
NEA (Expanded Sitio Electrification Program): assisting at least 6 ECs in developing feasibility studies for island sites.
NPC planned deployments [NREP 2020-2040, p.53, 2022]:
- New RE-hybrid mini-grids: cumulative 1.2 MW across unelectrified areas
- Solar PV retrofit in 4 diesel mini-grids: 595kWp total:
- Cuaming, Bohol: 55kWp
- Palumbang, Catanduanes: 40kWp
- Sabtang, Batanes: 250kWp
- Itbayat, Batanes: 250kWp
Section 4: Resource-Specific Programs (pp. 54–57)
4.1 Offshore Wind
WBG 2019 “Going Global: Expanding Offshore Wind To Emerging Markets” — 178 GW potential within 200km of shoreline: 18 GW fixed foundation (Guimaras Strait suitable) + 160 GW floating (N. Luzon, Mindoro north and south including Manila area). Also produced the Offshore Wind Energy Atlas of the Philippines [NREP 2020-2040, p.54, 2022].
Offshore Wind Roadmap for the Philippines — published 20 April 2022 by WBG in cooperation with DOE; provides strategic analysis of development potential and scenarios. As of March 2022: DOE awarded 30 Wind Energy Service Contracts (WESCs) with aggregate potential of 20.81 GW, mainly in Luzon and Visayas [NREP 2020-2040, pp.55-56, 2022].
Philippine Offshore Wind Joint Industry Platform (JIP) — established by Carbon Trust with DOE and industry experts/players; priority areas: (1) Marine Spatial Planning, (2) Permitting and Consenting, (3) Grid Integration and Planning [NREP 2020-2040, p.56, 2022].
UK ASEAN LCEP: series of expert panel dialogues on key considerations in offshore wind development [NREP 2020-2040, p.56, 2022].
4.2 Waste-to-Energy
DC2022-02-0002 (17 February 2022) — “Prescribing the Policies and Programs to Promote and Enhance the Development of Biomass Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Facilities.” Specific provisions [NREP 2020-2040, p.56, 2022]:
- Issuance of RECs to Mandated Participants procuring energy from eligible biomass WTE facilities
- Recommendation for a minimum 20-year PSA between a DU and eligible biomass WTE facility
- Exemption from CSP for biomass WTE facility procurement
- DOE to conduct comprehensive nationwide assessment of biomass WTE potential and viability
4.3 ERSP
As of NREP publication (July 2022), ERSP was under development — DOE conducting studies to determine policy and regulatory framework. Business models being explored: (1) capacity aggregation; (2) allowing commercial establishments to be RE developers enabling peer-to-peer trading or WESM selling. Formal DC issued December 2023 (DC2023-12-0035) [NREP 2020-2040, p.56, 2022].
4.4 FTAA for Geothermal
Geothermal development stagnant due to high exploration costs (~USD 6M/well, 20-30% success rate). Several service contracts terminated due to cost constraints. Government solution: allow 100% foreign ownership for large-scale geothermal projects under an FTAA, provided: (i) initial investment ≥ USD 50M, and (ii) project executed under an FTAA as defined by the Constitution [NREP 2020-2040, p.56, 2022].
Under the FTAA, a foreign company contracts directly with the President of the Philippines. Development must proceed exclusively through OCSP (both local and foreign entities may participate). The Philippine Constitution’s 60% Filipino ownership requirement for natural resource exploration is the baseline; FTAA is the constitutional exception mechanism.
4.5 Emerging RE Technologies
- Ocean/Tidal Stream: NAMA Facility grant for “Decarbonisation of Electricity Generation on Philippine Islands (Using Tidal Stream and Solar PV)”; steering committee: DOE + Climate Change Commission + Frankfurt School of Finance & Management
- Hydrogen: HFEC created via Special Order No. 2020-11-0041 (“Directing the Creation of a Hydrogen and Fusion Energy Committee”); initial 2020 study: green hydrogen using RE as fuel identified as primary production pathway; 2 MOUs signed with leading Australian and Japanese companies for further hydrogen energy viability investigation
- DOST: Grant programs for academe and MSMEs for emerging RE technology R&D
- RETF: Can provide additional funding for technology solutions under RE Act Section 28
Section B: Roadmap (pp. 58–59)
Short/medium-term priorities: full RE policy implementation, financing support, emerging/underutilized RE technologies. Long-term vision: advanced power system with smarter grids, robust ancillary market, strong local RE industry and workforce. Detail in Figures 23-24 (graphical — not extractable by pdftotext).
Raw extraction: pdftotext output