DoE: Cebu grid stability unlikely until 2028
Long-term power stability in Cebu and the broader Visayas region may not be achieved until 2028, as energy officials rely on new baseload facilities, power barges, and battery storage to address severe generation deficits, Department of Energy Secretary (DoE) Sharon Garin said Tuesday.
Speaking at the Cebu Energy Summit organized by the Cebu Provincial Government, Garin said the regional power grid faces growing supply pressures driven by rising consumer demand and frequent unscheduled outages at existing generation facilities.
Official data presented at the summit revealed that Cebu maintains an installed generating capacity of 993.2 megawatts — including 814.7 megawatts of baseload power — against an average demand of 839 megawatts and a peak demand reaching 1,254 megawatts.
To bridge the gap, the energy chief cited several major power projects in development, including a 150-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Cebu by Therma Visayas Inc. slated for commercial operation in 2028, and a 107-megawatt plant by the Cebu Energy Development Council planned for 2029.
Garin clarified that the proposed Therma Visayas coal project falls under an exception to the national moratorium on new coal-fired power plants instituted in 2020.
“There are some exceptions to the moratorium, especially when it comes to energy security,” Garin said.
She added that approved facilities must utilize supercritical clean-coal technology to minimize emissions and maintain transition pathways toward cleaner energy sources.
The agency is also evaluating proposed 500-megawatt natural gas-fired power plants across Cebu and Panay expected online between 2028 and 2030.
It will go alongside 250 megawatts of battery energy storage capacity across Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Panay to stabilize the grid during sudden forced outages.
As short-term relief over the next three to five years, the agency plans to deploy floating power barges and mobile diesel facilities — including a 50-megawatt barge and a 55-megawatt diesel plant in Cebu.
However, Garin cautioned that heavy reliance on diesel generation could inflate retail electricity rates for consumers.
The regional development council and provincial government have declared a state of power emergency for Central Visayas, which awaits final action from the Office of the President.