GIGA SUMMIT 2025: CHARTING THE PH ENERGY EVOLUTION WITH SMART SOLUTIONS, SUSTAINABLE GOALS, AND BOLD ACTIONS

Gathering the Philippines’ foremost energy executives, policymakers, and thought leaders, Giga Summit 2025: The Fusion of Power and Intelligence took a closer look at the evolving landscape of the nation’s power sector, with artificial intelligence (AI) and nuclear energy emerging as pivotal themes. The two-day summit, organized by Manila Electric Company’s (Meralco) energy education unit Meralco Power Academy (MPA), served as a strategic forum for presenting transformative initiatives that will shape the country’s energy future.

NUCLEAR ENERGY: A STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE

A year ago, the Philippine government has charted a bold course toward nuclear energy through the unveiling of the Nuclear Energy Roadmap at the 68th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna, Austria. The Department of Energy plans to bring into commercial operations at least 1,200 MW of nuclear power by 2032, scaling up to 4,800 MW by 2050.

As a key private sector player in this industry, Meralco has been actively assessing the responsible integration of nuclear energy into the country’s supply mix — which Meralco Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ronnie L. Aperocho highlighted when he introduced the company’s flagship Nuclear Energy Strategic Transition (NEST) program. NEST adopts a multi-track approach to evaluate all viable pathways for nuclear power deployment in the Philippines by considering the development of large-scale greenfield projects through partnerships with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Nuclear Energy Agency, and nuclear operators from France and South Korea; exploring the potential deployment of small modular reactors in collaboration with the US; and studying the feasibility of rehabilitating the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant.

Meralco’s NEST is aligned with the government’s target which Aperocho described as “ambitious, but very necessary.”

“NEST aims to lay the foundation for the development and implementation of the nuclear energy project in the Philippines,” Aperocho, who also sits as MPA President, said.

Meralco recognizes that the success of its strategic nuclear pursuit hinges not only on policies and technological advances, but also on human capital development. Through the Filipino Scholars and Interns on Nuclear Engineering (FISSION) program, which was launched during the Giga Summit 2023, MPA aims to build a pool of skilled professionals in the highly specialized field of nuclear engineering.

A total of five (5) FISSION scholars are currently studying at the Harbin Engineering University in China and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the US. Upon completion of the program, the scholars will be reintegrated into Meralco and will be assigned to take on roles in its nuclear initiatives.

“These bold steps are driven not just by infrastructure, but by intellectual readiness, as well. Through the Meralco Power Academy, we continue to be the vehicle of thought leadership, capability-building, and talent development for everyone in the energy sector,” Aperocho said.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: DRIVING OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Still focused on transforming the energy industry for the better, outgoing Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Monalisa Dimalanta emphasized the growing role of AI and machine learning in optimizing the Philippine power sector. With over 250 generation companies operating more than 600 power plants, and over 500 participants trading every five minutes in the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market, the sector generates vast volumes of real-time data across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Dimalanta said AI helps in processing data and finding solutions to real-time and systemic problems.

For Meralco, AI plays a crucial role in the transformation of its distribution network. Among Meralco’s key innovation initiatives are the Wireless Private Network meant to enhance the grid automation and security; the Meralco Data Platform which uses big data and AI to streamline operations; and the Meralco Interactive Data Assistant or MIDAS, the company’s AI-powered interactive assistant.

Aperocho also emphasized that these efforts aim to revolutionize sustainable operations, enhance resilience, and elevate customer experience through smart technologies and data-driven systems.

“We are future proofing Meralco’s distribution network through layers of different initiatives driven by innovation, big data and analytics, and powered by artificial intelligence,” he said.

THREE DS: A FRAMEWORK FOR ENERGY TRANSFORMATION

Meralco PowerGen President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel V. Rubio articulated the company’s strategic transformation agenda anchored on decarbonization, digitization, and decentralization or what he called the 3Ds.

Decarbonization reflects Meralco’s commitment to sustainability by reducing dependence on fossil fuels and scaling up renewable and nuclear energy sources.

Digitization involves leveraging data, automation, and advanced technologies to enhance operational efficiency and responsiveness.

Decentralization envisions a future where distributed energy resources such as solar rooftops, battery storage, and embedded generators become integral components of the national grid.

“As we stand at the crossroads of transformation, these three Ds are more than just buzzwords, they represent the future of energy. And they define the path that we must boldly take. It is no longer enough for our infrastructure to be a passive conduit of electricity. It must be resilient, adaptive, and intelligent,” Rubio said.

LEADERSHIP BEYOND DISTRIBUTION

Meralco plays a pivotal role in national development. As the Philippines’ largest distribution utility, Meralco serves over 8 million customers across nearly 10,000 square kilometers, encompassing 39 cities and 72 municipalities.

“Meralco occupies a unique position in the Philippine power sector,” former Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla had said. “It has shown commendable strengths. Its technological capabilities, especially in disaster situations, are exemplary, and should be adopted more widely by electric cooperatives. In diversification of sources of energy and in renewable energy, the Meralco group also stands as a leader.”

Meralco chairperson and chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan, who also acts as chairperson of MPA, for his part reaffirmed the company’s commitment to social impact and national progress.

“The ultimate test of our contribution as a business is this: Have we left our people better off? If we have not done that, then we have not done our job as a business. The social aspect of our businesses is very important to us. We love our people; we love our country. It is very central to what we do,” Pangilinan said.

Giga Summit 2025 was held last 24 and 25 April at The Fifth at Rockwell in Makati City. Giga Summit is a biennial event organized by MPA and is one of the premier platforms for fostering knowledge exchange among industry leaders, policymakers, and local and international experts highlighting the latest innovations and best practices shaping the evolving energy landscape.

Other speakers during the Giga Summit include PhilAtom Bill Sponsor Senator Allan Peter Cayetano, Indra Philippines Inc., Tokyo Electric Power Co., Microsoft Philippines, Excel Services Corporation; while representatives from Mitsubishi Power, Huawei, Actis, ACEN, MGEN, Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, Hitachi, Korea Electric Power, and Singapore Power Group sat as panelists.