DOE tightens oversight of power projects

December 29, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) is intensifying its oversight of 200 power generation projects to ensure timely completion and enhance energy security.

In a statement, the DOE said it is implementing active project monitoring across generation and energy storage developments to ensure that the committed capacity is delivered as scheduled.

This aligns with President Marcos’ directive to the DOE to accelerate the construction of 200 power generation projects over the next three years, thereby ensuring a reliable and sufficient energy supply.

Among projects being monitored by the DOE that is making progress is Terra Solar Philippines Inc.’s Stage 1 Terra Solar Project.

On Dec. 21, the project achieved a milestone with the energization and cut-in of the Terra Solar 500-kilovolt (kV) substation along the Nagsaag–San Jose 500 kV Line 2, paving the way for the expected start of commercial operation in the first quarter of 2026.

Stage 1 represents 364 megawatts of the project’s planned 2,500 MW solar capacity with battery energy storage systems.

As of November, the DOE reported that approximately 956 MW of new power generation capacity had been added to the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids.

The additional capacity comes from 12 facilities using renewable energy technologies, one oil-based power plant and one  natural gas-fired power plant.

This additional capacity is complemented by 160 MW of new energy storage capacity located in Luzon and Visayas.

Collectively, these are expected to help ensure a sufficient and reliable power supply to support the growing economy and meet the increasing electricity demand.

To ensure the timely delivery of projects, the DOE is working closely with project proponents and the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) to ensure grid interconnection readiness and to track construction and commissioning milestones.

They are also identifying bottlenecks that may affect project implementation, such as permitting constraints, right-of-way issues, equipment delivery risks and site-level challenges.

“Through these efforts, the DOE aims to strengthen accountability, address issues before they escalate into delays and ensure that new capacity additions can reliably support the grid when they are needed most,” the DOE said.

It said it would continue to work closely with the NGCP and the project proponent for Terra Solar Stage 1 to ensure that grid interconnection requirements and safety standards are met and that key commissioning milestones remain on track.

“The Department will likewise maintain close monitoring of other committed projects under the 200-power-plant pipeline, supporting the timely integration of new generation to strengthen system reliability and energy security,” the DOE said.

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