The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), led by Chairperson and CEO Atty. Francis Saturnino C. Juan, highlighted the critical role of Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in integrating renewable energy efficiently and ensuring a resilient, decarbonized future during the Energy Storage Summit Asia 2025, held for the first time in the Philippines at The Westin Manila.
Organized by the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA), the two-day summit brought together policymakers, investors, developers, and energy sector leaders from across the ASEAN region to discuss the growing importance of energy storage in securing sustainable and reliable electricity supply.
In his keynote address, Chairperson Juan stressed the rising electricity demand driven by the country’s economic growth, industrial modernization, and increased adoption of technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) and data centers. “We have targeted to achieve a renewable energy share of 35% by 2030 and 50% by 2040. These ambitious yet essential goals are crucial for securing a low-carbon, inclusive, and competitive future. However, the challenge we face is no longer about generating clean power. Instead, it lies in how we store, balance, and deliver it reliably—day and night, during calm seas or typhoons, and across more than 7,000 islands,” he said.
The ERC is currently reviewing its Draft Rules on Energy Storage Systems, which aim to define the regulatory framework for storage over the next decade. The rules will ensure fair market access for storage assets, whether used in generation, transmission, distribution, or standalone capacities, while setting clear guidelines on ownership, connection agreements, and safety standards.
In addition, the Commission is revising existing regulations—including the Philippine Grid Code (PGC), Philippine Distribution Code (PDC), and Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) Rules—to integrate technologies such as grid-forming inverters and synthetic inertia, establish dispatch and scheduling protocols for ESS, set distribution-level interconnection and smart-metering requirements, and strengthen data exchange, cybersecurity, and operational safety standards.
Chairperson Juan highlighted the country’s progress in adopting energy storage, from the long-standing Kalayaan Pumped Storage Power Plant to the latest Green Energy Auction Program, where many renewable energy projects now incorporate storage solutions.
“The era of passive consumption is over. We are now in the age of active, intelligent energy management. The ESS is no longer a piece of hardware; it is the beating heart of the new grid,” he added.
Through these initiatives, the ERC aims to support the Philippines’ energy transition—enhancing grid reliability, fostering innovation, and ensuring renewable energy growth is balanced with energy security, affordability, and sustainability for all Filipinos.
