The Philippines has joined Indonesia and Vietnam in launching a regional partnership to accelerate the transition of island and remote communities from diesel-powered electricity generation to solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and battery energy storage systems (BESS), as the Department of Energy (DOE) looks to integrate island electrification into its Green Energy Auction (GEA) program.

The partnership was launched on November 10 during the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, at the Powering the Islands and Remote Communities through Solar and Battery Storage event held at the COP31 Philippine Hub.

DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, who led the Philippine energy delegation, highlighted the government’s direction during the event.

“The Department of Energy is serious about integrating island electrification under the Green Energy Auction,” Fuentebella said.

The GEA is a competitive procurement mechanism designed to encourage renewable energy development. However, the DOE has yet to specify which auction round would include island electrification or disclose the corresponding capacity allocations and implementation schedule.

According to DOE data cited by the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), 421 of the Philippines’ 447 off-grid power plants, or approximately 94%, relied on oil as of December 2025, highlighting the continued dependence of remote electricity systems on fossil fuels.

The release cited Cobrador Island in Romblon as an example of the potential benefits of solar and battery storage. A 30-kilowatt (kW) solar-plus-battery hybrid system reportedly reduced electricity generation costs by approximately 50%, from USD 0.47 to USD 0.24 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

The same installation reportedly extended daily electricity service from eight hours to 24 hours, demonstrating how renewable energy and storage can support longer electricity availability in isolated communities.

The regional partnership aims to strengthen cooperation among participating countries, attract investments, and support the development of more affordable, reliable, and climate-resilient island electricity systems.

Research from Indonesia’s Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) estimates that solar PV paired with battery storage could deliver electricity at approximately one-third the cost of diesel generation under the conditions assessed.

Beyond individual projects, the initiative emphasizes coordinated energy planning, financing mechanisms, supportive policies, grid modernization, and technical capacity to expand renewable energy deployment across island communities.

“Through this partnership, we want to bring countries, industry and investors together to turn these opportunities into implementable projects,” said Tetchi Capellan, Chairperson of APVIA’s Steering Committee.

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How could integrating island electrification into the Green Energy Auction help reduce diesel dependence in remote Philippine communities?

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APVIA Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association COP31 island energy partnership DOE island electrification GEA island electrification green energy auction Philippines Philippines Indonesia Vietnam energy partnership