DREAMS Project (Development for RE Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability)
The Development for Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (DREAMS) project was a collaborative DOE initiative with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), implemented from 2016 to 2023 with a grant of USD 5.2 million [PEP 2023-2050 Vol. III, Section E, p.62, 2023].
Primary objective: Reduce GHG emissions by promoting and commercializing the RE market while addressing barriers to investment in RE-based power generation.
Project closure: Implementation completed 31 July 2023; operational and financial closure completed 31 December 2023; final accomplishment report approved 28 June 2023 by the DREAMS Project Steering Committee (chaired by DOE).
Components and Achievements
1. Supportive RE Policy Environment
Facilitated development and approval of the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) for 2020–2040 (see National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) 2020-2040 ). Through technical expertise and stakeholder engagement, DREAMS contributed to the establishment of a favorable policy framework for RE growth.
2. Local Institutional Strengthening
Focused on three provinces: Iloilo, Palawan, and Lanao del Sur. Built capacity for local RE planning, empowering LGUs and electric cooperatives (ECs) with knowledge and resources for RE policy integration into local plans.
3. Capitalized RE Market
Played a pivotal role in establishing the Renewable Energy Registrar (RER) platform, operationalized in 2019. The RER facilitates efficient trading and transactions of RE certificates to increase the RE share in the power capacity mix — a precursor to the Renewable Energy Market (REM) .
4. RE Commercialization
Through the Support Facility for RE (SF4RE) — a USD 1 million DREAMS sub-facility — funded the installation of 18 local RE projects across communities, LGUs, and ECs, showcasing RE viability and fostering widespread adoption [NREP 2020-2040, pp.40-41, 2022]. Several projects involved NREP -aligned rooftop solar and microgrid installations in off-grid communities.
Full SF4RE project list (17 projects, Table 14) [NREP 2020-2040, Table 14, pp.51-53, 2022]:
| Capacity | Project / Location | Proponent |
|---|---|---|
| 49.25 kW | Smart Grid Solar PV (165 HH) — Cagayancillo, Palawan | Palawan EC + Cagayancillo LGU |
| Under dev. | Solar PV + PURE — Carles, Iloilo | Carles LGU + Iloilo III EC |
| Under dev. | PURE — Lanao del Sur | Lanao del Sur Provincial Government |
| 34.2 kW | Oriental Mindoro Green Energy Pilot (7 municipal + 7 faith-based bldgs + 1 livelihood center) | Oriental Mindoro Provincial Gov’t + WeGen Laudato Si Inc. + Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan |
| 25 kW | Bun-acan Micro-Hydro Rehabilitation + Irrigation (60 HH) — San Remigio, Antique | Antique Provincial Gov’t + San Remigio LGU + Brgy. Panpanan I |
| 22 kW | MMSU Solar Powered Aquatic Life Support System | Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) |
| 6.48 kW | Potable Water Systems (128 HH) — Tapaz, Capiz | Tapaz LGU |
| 1 MW | Mini-Hydro Plant Rehabilitation (11,035 HH) — Lawaan, Samar | Eastern Samar Electric Cooperative |
| 45 kW | Micro-Hydro Rehabilitation (9,984 HH) — Ajuy, Iloilo | Ajuy LGU + Iloilo III EC |
| 10 kW | Micro-Hydro Rehabilitation (62 HH + 5 community facilities) — Upper Katablangan, Apayao | Katablangan Indigenous Farmers Association |
| 42.84 kW | Smart Grid Solar PV (300 HH) — Burdeos, Quezon | Entrepreneurs du Monde + Quezon II EC |
| 36 kW | Solar PV Powered Bioethanol Distiller (3 barangays) — Aparri, Cagayan | Aparri LGU + MMSU |
| 75 kW | Solar PV Rooftop — Iloilo Provincial Hospital | Iloilo Provincial Government + Iloilo II EC |
| 29.3 kW | Smart Grid Solar PV + Irrigation (120 HH) — Brgy. Apurawan, Aborlan, Palawan | Aborlan LGU + Palawan EC |
| 20 kW | Potable Water Systems (820 HH) — Goa, Camarines Sur | Goa LGU |
| 39.65 kW | Community Solar PV Mini-Grid (357 HH) — Pamilacan, Bohol | — |
| 95 kW | Solar PV Rooftop (10 LGU buildings) — Concepcion, Iloilo | — |
[PEP 2023-2050 Vol. III, p.62, 2023; NREP 2020-2040, pp.40-41, 2022]
Local RE Planning (LREP)
The DREAMS project also led capacity building for Local Renewable Energy Planning (LREP) — enabling LGUs to integrate RE into their spatial and development plans. LREP was guided by DOE-DILG Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2020-01 (13 April 2020), the “LGU Energy Code,” which requires LGU Energy Sector Committees to prepare: (a) a Spatial Energy Plan, (b) a Development Plan incorporating ER 1-94 benefits, (c) regulatory reforms to streamline permitting within EVOSS periods, and (d) IEC campaigns [NREP 2020-2040, pp.40-41, 2022].
DREAMS conducted LREP with local government units in Iloilo, Palawan, Lanao del Sur, Oriental Mindoro, and with Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) [NREP 2020-2040, p.40, 2022].