ALVIN B. CULABA

Recent Developments on Renewable Energy in the Philippines

Abstract

The global transition toward 100% renewable energy is no longer an environmental aspiration but an urgent strategic necessity for energy security, economic resilience, and climate survival. For the Philippines, this transition is particularly critical due to its heavy dependence on imported fossil fuels, rising electricity demand, vulnerability to global fuel price shocks, and high exposure to climate-related disasters. Current energy consumption reached 35.1 MTOE and is projected to grow annually by 5.8% until 2040, while self-sufficiency remains at only 51.5%, highlighting the urgent need for domestic renewable energy expansion. This paper examines the Philippine pathway toward a fully renewable and sustainable energy future through a systems perspective integrating technology, policy, economics, and innovation. It highlights the country’s strong potential in geothermal, solar, wind, hydropower, biomass, ocean energy, hydrogen, and next-generation biofuels, supported by enabling frameworks such as the Renewable Energy Act, Biofuels Act, and the National Renewable Energy Plan 2040. Under the Clean Energy Scenario, renewable energy is projected to increase from 21% to 50% of electricity generation by 2040, requiring major investments in smart grids, storage systems, electric mobility, and energy efficiency programs. The presentation also discusses strategic challenges including grid stability, transmission expansion, intermittency management, and financing barriers, while emphasizing the role of life cycle thinking, carbon management, and innovation ecosystems in ensuring a just and resilient energy transition. Achieving 100% renewable energy demands not only technological transformation, but also strong governance, regional cooperation, and science-driven policy leadership for a sustainable global future.

Biography

Professor Alvin B. Culaba, Ph.D. is the Vice President of the National Academy of Science and Technology, Republic of the Philippines and the Commissioner on Science & Technology, UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines. He had served as Philippine Energy Adviser (2007-2010) and as independent board member of the Philippine Electricity Market Corporation (2014-2016). As an expert panel member of the Philippine Joint Congressional Commission on Science, Technology, and Engineering (COMSTE) he assessed the S&T competitiveness of the energy sector and was commissioned to undertake energy policy studies that led to the crafting of the country’s energy twin-bill, the Biofuels Act of 2006 (RA9367) and the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA9513). A leading researcher in energy and environmental sustainability, he is amongst the top 2% of the world’s scientist by Stanford-Elsevier. He sits as editorial board member and reviewer of prestigious international journals. He has delivered numerous keynotes and plenary lectures in international conferences and is a Visiting Scholar to universities in Asia, UK, and the USA. He was a former Executive Vice President of De La Salle University Manila, past Presidents of the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) and the Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering (PAASE), USA. He is Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Director and co-founder of the Center for Engineering and Sustainable Development Research (CESDR) at De La Salle University