Energy leaders push for reliable, accessible renewable power

Building a cleaner energy future requires more than expanding renewable power generation, stressed First Gen Corporation president and COO Francis Giles Puno during the opening of the 4th Philippine Renewable Energy Conference & Exhibition 2026 at City of Dreams Manila on Wednesday, 28 October.

“Building more renewable energy is essential, but it is not enough,” Puno said, emphasizing the need to strengthen the entire power system as electricity demand continues to grow.

He described the energy transition as a “whole system challenge,” requiring investments in generation, transmission, storage, flexible capacity, financing, and infrastructure to ensure a reliable electricity supply.

Overlook complex systems

Puno also highlighted how consumers can overlook the complex systems behind everyday access to electricity. “You flip the switch, and power comes on,” he said, explaining that this simple expectation depends on an interconnected system that must operate reliably every day.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s message, delivered by E-vents CEO Robert Limjoco, likewise underscored renewable energy’s contribution to economic stability and the administration’s commitment to sustainable energy.

Other presentations explored how different technologies can help meet the country’s growing energy needs. Energy Development Corporation vice president Marvin Kenneth Bailon discussed geothermal energy, which accounts for around 9 percent of the country’s energy production, and the need to unlock more of the Philippines’ indigenous geothermal resources.

Battery energy storage system performance

Meanwhile, Jeffrey Calderon, chief operating officer of Huawei Digital Power Philippines and chairperson of ReNew Gen Energy Circle, discussed Battery Energy Storage System performance, including safety, component balance, system protection and efficiency. These considerations are important as storage helps make renewable energy integration more reliable, Calderon said.

First Gen senior vice president and head of Portfolio Development Group Dennis Michael Gonzales highlighted the role of hydropower in supporting grid stability and flexibility.

“We should not take hydropower for granted,” Gonzales said, describing it as a vital resource for the energy transition. He explained that while wind and solar drive renewable generation and geothermal provides steady baseload power, hydropower helps balance supply and demand.

He also discussed First Gen’s 100-megawatt Aya pumped-storage project, which will move water between existing reservoirs, pumping it uphill when electricity demand is low and releasing it through turbines during peak periods. The system is designed to support grid responsiveness while improving the efficiency of the Pantabangan-Masiway hydroelectric complex.

Also featured in the event was a panel discussion on the future of renewable energy supply agreements and how Philippine businesses can access clean power. Moderated by energy journalist Myrna Velasco, the discussion brought together IEMOP senior legal manager Atty. Lilibeth Grace Vetus, UGEP president and CEO Ruth Yu-Owen, TotalEnergies Business Development head for the Philippines and Indonesia Thijs Sablerolle and Murang Kuryente Coalition president Carlo Alcano.

Energy transition

The discussions highlighted that the energy transition extends beyond generating cleaner electricity. Storage, reliable infrastructure, financing, and accessible supply agreements all influence how businesses and consumers can benefit from renewable energy.

As Puno emphasized, the country must “expand it, strengthen it, and decarbonize it at the same time, making the transition not only a matter of developing clean energy, but also delivering dependable power to more Filipinos.”