Regional Power: Masdar enters Philippines renewable energy market with 1 GW clean energy agreement

By Romel S. Gurky

UAE firm Masdar has announced its entry into the Philippines renewable energy market by signing agreements to develop up to 1 gigawatt (GW) of clean energy projects. This marks a significant milestone in Masdar’s Southeast Asia expansion and aligns with the Philippines’ renewable energy goals.

The agreements, signed with the Philippines’ Department of Energy and Board of Investments, include the development of solar, wind, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The projects aim to support the Philippines’ target of generating 35% of its power from renewable sources by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

The signing ceremony, attended by Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Chairman of Masdar, and Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Secretary of Energy for the Philippines, builds upon the Energy Transition Cooperation memorandum signed between the two countries in November 2024. That agreement highlighted renewable energy as a key area of collaboration.

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Dr. Al Jaber emphasized the partnership’s potential to enhance energy security and foster low-carbon economic growth. Lotilla echoed these sentiments, noting that Masdar’s expertise in utility-scale renewable energy projects would significantly advance the Philippines’ energy transition goals.

The projects are expected to complement infrastructure development initiatives in key economic zones within the Luzon Economic Corridor, including Subic Bay, Clark, Manila, and Batangas. Ceferino S. Rodolfo, Undersecretary at the Department of Trade and Industry, highlighted the collaboration as a reflection of the strengthening bilateral relations between the UAE and the Philippines, following high-level ministerial engagements in 2024.

Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi described the Philippines as a strategic market for the company’s efforts to achieve 100 GW of renewable energy capacity globally by 2030. The agreement builds on Masdar’s track record in Southeast Asia, including the development of the 145 MW Cirata Floating Solar PV plant in Indonesia and a 10 GW clean energy project partnership with Malaysia.

Editing by Alexander Ginting