National Renewable Energy Board (NREB)
The National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) is a multi-stakeholder advisory and oversight body created under Section 27 of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513). Its primary roles are to set Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) percentages, monitor the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), and oversee the Renewable Energy Trust Fund (RETF).
Composition
NREB has a Chairman plus 14 representatives [RA 9513, Section 27, 2008]:
Government representatives (designated by their respective Secretaries on a permanent basis):
| Agency | Role |
|---|---|
| Department of Energy (DOE) | — |
| Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) | — |
| Department of Finance (DOF) | — |
| Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) | — |
| National Power Corporation (NPC) | — |
| TRANSCO or its successors-in-interest | — |
| Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) | — |
| Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (PEMC) | — |
Sectoral representatives (appointed by the President upon endorsement by industry associations):
| Sector | — |
|---|---|
| RE Developers | — |
| Government Financial Institutions (GFIs) | — |
| Private distribution utilities | — |
| Electric cooperatives | — |
| Electricity suppliers | — |
| Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) | — |
The NREB Chairman must convene the Board within one month of RA 9513’s effectivity. The Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB) of DOE serves as the NREB Technical Secretariat and reports to the DOE Secretary or Undersecretary [RA 9513, Section 27, 2008; DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 26, 2009-05-25].
Member qualifications: Members and their alternates must be of proven integrity and probity, with a working knowledge and understanding of the RE industry, and occupying the position of at least Director (for government agencies) or Manager (for private entities) [DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 23, 2009-05-25].
Conflict of interest: Private sector members are not required to divest their interests. However, the NREB shall adopt its own Code of Ethics to be observed by all members [DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 23, 2009-05-25].
Technical Secretariat staffing: The number of staff and creation of positions to complement or augment the existing REMB plantilla is determined by the Board, subject to civil service rules and DBM approval for the required funds [DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 26, 2009-05-25].
Powers and Functions
| Function | Detail |
|---|---|
| (a) RPS setting | Evaluate and recommend to DOE the mandated RPS minimum percentage of generation from eligible RE resources, and the minimum RE generation requirement in off-grid areas, on a per-grid basis |
| (b) NREP implementation | Recommend specific actions to facilitate NREP implementation and ensure no overlapping or redundant government functions |
| (c) Monitoring | Monitor and review NREP implementation, including RPS compliance and off-grid RE minimum requirements |
| (d) RETF oversight | Oversee and monitor utilization of the RETF administered by DOE |
| (e) One-stop shop | Cause the establishment of a one-stop shop facilitation scheme to accelerate implementation of RE projects |
| (f) Other functions | Such other functions necessary to attain the objectives of RA 9513 |
[RA 9513, Section 27, 2008; DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 27, 2009-05-25]
Meetings and Governance
Regular meetings are held at least once per quarter on a date and place fixed by the Board. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or by a majority vote of the Board [DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 24, 2009-05-25].
Representatives from the following may be invited as resource persons (non-voting):
- Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
- Department of Agriculture (DA)
- National Water Resources Board (NWRB)
- National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
- National Electrification Administration (NEA)
- National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP)
- The academe
[DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 24, 2009-05-25]
Remuneration: The NREB determines its own members’ appropriate compensation in accordance with existing laws, then makes formal requests to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the necessary funds and appropriations [DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 25, 2009-05-25].
Reporting
NREB, in coordination with DOE, submits a yearly report to the Philippine Congress through the Joint Congressional Power Commission (EPIRA §62) every January, covering RE development progress and the benefits generated by RE development in the context of energy security and climate change [RA 9513, Section 24, 2008; DC2009-05-0008, SEC. 40, 2009-05-25].
Role in FiT, RPS, and Net Metering
Under RA 9513, ERC must consult the NREB when [RA 9513, Sections 6–10, 2008]:
- Setting the FiT system rules (§7)
- Establishing net metering interconnection standards (§10)
DOE must consult NREB when:
- Promulgating GEOP implementing rules (§9)
- Determining the minimum RE % for off-grid areas (§12)
NREB is thus the primary inter-agency advisory mechanism linking RE policy targets (through NREP) to market mechanisms (FiT, RPS, net metering) and fiscal incentives oversight.
Under DC2023-05-0014, NREB’s role is extended in two ways:
New technology endorsement: Additional RE technologies beyond the standard list may be identified as eligible for off-grid RPS compliance only after DOE determination and NREB endorsement, along with relevant government agencies [DC2023-05-0014, SEC. 9(j), 2023-05].
Compliance report recipient: The RPSCT (chaired by DOE, with REMB-TSMD as secretariat) submits the annual Compliance Report on Mandated Participants to the DOE Secretary, ERC, and NREB [DC2023-05-0014, SEC. 17(c), 2023-05] — making NREB a formal oversight recipient for off-grid RPS implementation results.