Sustainability Renewable Energy

AboitizPower CEO cites "multi-faceted road" in PH energy transition

September 15, 2023

Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) President and CEO Emmanuel Rubio stressed the necessity of meeting the energy requirements of today by considering all forms of energy sources, but also with an eye towards ensuring the electricity needs of future Filipinos are looked after.

“Meeting today's energy needs is imperative. It fuels our nation's growth, sustains our industries, and powers our homes,” Rubio said, adding how the Philippines’s upward growth trajectory has and will continue to drive electricity demand.

“[But] transitioning to a more sustainable energy future will take time. This journey necessitates the construction and upkeep of two distinct energy systems: one that ensures the reliable and sufficient meeting of our current energy needs and another that paves the way for cleaner, greener energy delivery over an extended period,” he added.

Rubio made his remarks during Meralco Power Academy’s “Giga Summit on Sustainable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and the Future Grid 2023” at The Fifth at Rockwell, Makati City.

To help meet a projected 6.6% annual growth in electricity demand, AboitizPower indicated that it is considering all feasible energy options — both renewable and thermal, including energy storage technologies — with consideration of its impact on the environment, the local community, and the wider society.

In line with the Philippine government’s goal of having a 50% share of renewable energy (RE) in the country’s power generation mix by 2040, AboitizPower will continue to invest in RE en route to reaching at least 4,600 megawatts (MW), or 50% of its generation portfolio by the next decade.

“It is an opportunity for us to embrace the power of the sun, wind, and earth to meet our energy needs sustainably. By doing so, we preserve our environment, reduce emissions, and secure a cleaner energy landscape for future generations,” Rubio said.

Currently, close to 1,000 MW of AboitizPower RE projects — including wind and solar farms and more geothermal capacities — are in the pipeline.

At the same time, AboitizPower is also looking at baseload capacities that will “keep the lights on” like liquified natural gas to potentially complement the influx of variable RE, as well as small modular nuclear reactors for quick and scalable capacity deployment and flexibility.

“Sustainability demands that we explore and apply cutting-edge, clean, and zero-emissions technologies that require many years, if not decades, to gain traction, be written into local laws and regulations, earn social acceptance, followed by actual boots on the ground, power plants being built and kilometers of transmission lines being strung,” Rubio said.

In a country vulnerable to calamities like the Philippines, Rubio also underscored the need for building resilient energy infrastructure in the generation, transmission, and distribution sectors.

“Our systems must withstand the natural and man-made disturbances and uncertainties our world presents, be it earthquakes, typhoons, or unforeseen socio-political turmoils. This resilience ensures that our energy remains accessible and available even in the face of adversity,” he explained.