ICSC: Recurring grid alerts show deeper reliability issues in coal plants
QUEZON CITY, 5 August 2025 — In response to the recent yellow alerts raised in the Visayas and Mindanao grids, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) underscores the recurring issue of unplanned outages, particularly among baseload coal power plants. Despite the ongoing rainy season, when electricity demand is typically lower, several plants continue to face reliability issues. As of August 4, 2025, the following baseload power plants remained offline due to unplanned outages: DCPP Therma South Unit 1 (150MW, Coal): offline since July 31 SMC Malita Unit 2 (150MW, Coal): offline since July 30 FDC Misamis Unit [...]
El Niño ups chances of yellow alerts in Luzon by mid-May – ICSC
QUEZON CITY, April 16, 2024 – The Luzon grid is expected to experience a tight power supply in May, particularly from May 13 to 26, potentially leading to yellow alerts as El Niño threatens the country’s power sufficiency this dry season. Manila-based think tank Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) launched the report entitled “Philippine Power Outlook: Reviewing the Adequacy of Power Supply for April to June 2024” today, which examined power supply projections in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao based on the power demand and supply outlook presented by the Department of Energy (DOE). It also delved into [...]
Bleak, challenging energy sector outlook seen in ’23 [Business Mirror]
by Lenie Lectura | January 09, 2023| Published by Business Mirror | READ THE STORY HERE INDUSTRY stakeholders paint a bleak and very challenging power sector this year. The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) said rotating brownouts could happen in the second quarter of this year because of two reasons that were not included in earlier projections of the grid operator. “The power outlook for 2023 is bleak. We at ICSC do not foresee much improvement in the supply from both coal and fossil gas power plants,” ICSC senior policy advisor Pete Maniego Jr. said. He cited [...]
SONA 2022: ICSC responds to President Marcos, Jr.’s energy roadmap
Reiterates calls for renewable energy push, abolition of pasa-load, reduction of power cost, and increase in power supply QUEZON CITY, 26 July 2022 – Reacting to President Marcos, Jr.’s pronouncements in his first State of the Nation Address citing cheap and reliable energy as a fundamental requirement for economic growth, ICSC Senior Policy Advisor Pete Maniego said: “ICSC agrees that the Philippines should increase the level of energy production to meet its current demand. It should take advantage of the best technology available, especially in the area of renewable energy. “The Philippines has one of the lowest [...]
ICSC welcomes secretary nominations for DOE, DENR
QUEZON CITY, July 15, 2022 – International climate and energy policy group Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) welcomed the nomination of Raphael “Popo” Lotilla as the next secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) and Ma. Antonia “Toni” Yulo-Loyzaga as the next secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the Marcos Jr. administration’s Cabinet. Lotilla, whose nomination was announced Monday, previously served as energy secretary from 2005 to 2007 and as deputy secretary general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA). He is currently a law professor at the University of the Philippines. Aboitiz [...]