AFP receives off-grid energy boost

The Department of Energy (DOE) has turned over three solar-powered Mobile Energy System (MES) units to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to boost disaster response and mission readiness in remote or high-risk areas.

"The Mobile Energy System is a force multiplier. It energizes our frontliners, supports mission-critical operations, and delivers on the President’s call for a resilient and secure energy future," Undersecretary and Task Force on Energy Resiliency Chairperson Felix William B. Fuentebella said on Thursday.

Each MES is housed in a 20-foot trailer and features 9.18 kilowatt-peak solar panels, a 60 kVA hybrid inverter, and 102.4 kilowatt-hour of battery storage.

The MES has already been deployed to typhoon-hit areas in Cagayan and remote island locations in Palawan, including Pag-asa and Balabac.

“These systems are more than equipment—they are part of a long-term strategy for energy resiliency. Their success depends on the skill and readiness of our personnel,” Fuentebella added.

The program, in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development and the Hawai‘i Natural Energy Institute, supports the ongoing DOE-AFP cooperation in boosting the country’s energy resilience and emergency response capabilities.