About 956 megawatts (MW) of new power generation capacity have been added to the Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao grids, along with 160 MW of new battery storage in Luzon and Visayas, as industry players race to meet rising electricity demand.

The Department of Energy reported on Thursday that the additional generation comes from 12 renewable energy plants, one oil-based plant, and one natural gas-fired plant, most of which began commissioning in the second half of the year. 

“Every megawatt we add to the grid is not just a number on paper; it is electricity for homes, power for businesses, and confidence for investors,” Secretary of Energy Sharon S. Garin said.

“By combining renewable energy projects with flexible conventional plants and modern energy storage, we are building an energy system that is cleaner, more reliable, and more resilient,” she added.

While the new capacity shows progress, it remains far below the 200 power plants initially pledged during the last State of the Nation Address. 

Nonetheless, the DOE said it will continue working with the private sector, regulators, and other stakeholders to accelerate project implementation, streamline permitting processes, and ensure that future capacity additions support energy security, affordability, and a just transition to cleaner energy.