The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) have joined forces, signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to drive forward collaborative efforts in accelerating research and development (R&D) ventures within the renewable energy (RE) sector, intensifying the push toward clean energy adoption.
At the core of this collaboration lies the utilization of the Renewable Energy Trust Fund (RETF), as mandated by Section 28 of Republic Act No. 9513, commonly referred to as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. The RETF acts as a specialized funding source aimed at supporting research and development (R&D), demonstration, and promotion efforts for renewable energy (RE) systems, covering both power and non-power applications. Qualified R&D institutions leading RE studies or engaging in joint ventures with the public and private sectors, including fellowship programs focused on energy studies, are driving these initiatives forward.
In 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) made substantial progress by issuing Department Circular No. DC2022-06-0018, offering extensive directives for overseeing the Renewable Energy Trust Fund (RETF). This move is geared towards enhancing the management of the fund, thereby expediting the execution of renewable energy (RE) research and development (R&D) initiatives.
Under the MOA, the DOE and DOST, through the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), will collaborate on research projects aimed at enhancing the efficiency, affordability, and scalability of RE technologies. This includes advancements in solar, wind, hydro, biomass, ocean, geothermal energy, and other emerging technologies.
Moreover, the agreement enables the integration of research discoveries and advancements, nurturing the commercialization of renewable energy (RE) technologies and fueling expansion in the domestic green economy. The signing ceremony of the MOA witnessed the presence of Energy Secretary Raphael P.M. Lotilla and DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. Secretary Lotilla underscored the importance of this partnership, stressing the united endeavors to spur innovation and tackle technical, economic, and policy barriers impeding the broad implementation of RE technologies.
Secretary Lotilla emphasized the significance of research and development (R&D) in furnishing policymakers with crucial scientific and technical perspectives, assisting in the assessment of policy frameworks and market mechanisms to bolster the adoption of renewable energy (RE). Urging collective action, the DOE and DOST extend an invitation to stakeholders across public and private sectors, academia, and civil society to rally behind this collaboration. Their collective goal is to bolster the advancement and wider adoption of renewable energy, charting a course toward a sustainable and resilient energy landscape.