Philippines, UK Partner on Microgrid and Offshore Wind Development

The Philippine Department of Energy (PDOE) and the UK government will collaborate to advance offshore wind and microgrid development across the southeast Asian nation.

The UK will provide technical assistance for three projects under the UK Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK-PACT) Philippines Country Fund. Together, the projects aim to strengthen implementation readiness, improve evidence-based decision-making, and enhance the quality and transparency of governance tools.

“By promoting inclusive, evidence-based approaches and strengthening institutional capacity, the program aims to advance renewable energy deployment, expand rural electrification and contribute a greener, more resilient future for the Philippines,” Raphael Perpetuo Lotilla, Secretary of the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said at the partnership’s launch event in December.

Sarah Hulton, British Ambassador to the Philippines, added, “A diversified renewables-driven power sector not only cuts emissions, it provides a transformative opportunity to lower costs, strengthen resilience and open new pathways for sustainable industries and employment.” 

Frameworks, data collection and documentation standards

The first project will develop a framework for evaluating infrastructure plans submitted by developers through the Green Energy Auction Program 5 (GEAP-5), the country’s first offshore wind (OSW) auction.

The framework will set clear documentation standards and evaluation criteria to transparently assess the feasibility, sequencing, and key milestones of fixed-bottom offshore wind proposals—helping ensure the auction process is credible and results in projects that are viable, responsibly developed, and delivered on time.

The second technical assistance project focuses on strengthening institutional capacity for microgrid planning and evidence-based decision-making. It will develop a comprehensive data collection framework for PDOE priority microgrid sites, ensuring technical and commercial requirements reflect on-the-ground conditions, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

The Philippines has initiated a number of microgrid projects in recent years to improve access to the nearly 4 million Filipino households either unserved or underserved by the nation’s power grid.

The third technical assistance project will help review and validate early results from the marine spatial planning (MSP) process and its offshore wind planning tool. It will also strengthen the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ and PDOE’s ability to use the improved MSP approach, supporting clearer, more coordinated, and more transparent offshore wind siting and planning decisions.

“These workstreams will help the (Philippine) DOE sharpen implementation discipline from clearer documentation standards and review criteria for OSW auction to better site data that supports transparent, competitive microgrid procurement,” said Cristina Guevara, PDOE Undersecretary. “The objective is straightforward: improve readiness and confidence so that commitments convert into timely, reliable projects on the ground.”

Multi-year support

In addition to the technical assistance, the LOI specifies collaboration on capacity building workshops and training sessions for government officials and other key stakeholders.

“This LOI reinforces our shared commitment to practical, outcomes-driven climate cooperation where technical rigor, transparent processes and stronger institutional capacity translate into deliverable projects on the ground,” Sharon Garin, the Philippine Energy Secretary, said in a statement.  “By strengthening the frameworks that make offshore wind and microgrid development more feasible, credible and well-governed, we can accelerate the shift to cleaner and more reliable energy while safeguarding public interest and long-term energy security.”

The UK PACT Philippines Country Fund support will run through March 2027.