ICSC: The real risk is delay, not renewables
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities REACTIVE EDITOR'S NOTE (07 May 2026): Amendments were made in the introduction and articles cited to reflect clarifications in this piece. QUEZON CITY, 06 May 2026 – In the midst of an energy crisis, marked by rising electricity prices and continued exposure to volatile global fuel markets—the real risk is not renewable energy, but the delay and barriers to scaling it. Recent conversations surfaced on how nuclear energy is being "eyed to contribute to the local power generation mix by 2032." In response, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) [...]
ICSC: Enable, not constrain, informed solar energy adoption
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities OFFICIAL STATEMENT Rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are a critical component of the Philippines’ energy transition, offering a decentralized and increasingly affordable solution to rising electricity demand. Yet a significant portion of these systems—particularly small- to medium-scale installations—remain unregistered and therefore invisible in official energy accounting. This leads to an underestimation of actual renewable energy (RE) capacity and generation, with implications for planning, demand forecasting, and tracking progress toward national RE target share in the power generation mix of 35% by 2030, increasing to 50% by 2040, and over 50% by 2050. Recently, [...]
ICSC: Middle East tensions emphasize Philippine energy security must not depend on fossil fuels
Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities PRESS RELEASE QUEZON CITY, March 10, 2026 — The Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) emphasizes that energy security must not depend on fossil fuels, as rising tensions in the Middle East expose the Philippines’ vulnerability to global fuel price shocks. In a position paper released today, ICSC highlights that accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and modernizing the country’s power system provides a no-regrets strategy to strengthen the country’s energy security. “When global price shocks or supply disruptions occur, we are reminded time and time again of the expensive costs that this [...]
Low-hanging fruit: Quick ways to generate clean, reliable power [Inquirer.net]
by Pete Maniego | December 29, 2025| Published by Philippine Daily Inquirer | READ THE STORY HERE MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines cannot seem to graduate from its long history of power outages. From the crippling brownouts of the 1990s to today’s recurring alerts of thin reserves, energy insecurity remains a persistent reality. Every dry season brings the same headlines: soaring demand, unplanned shutdowns, and looming threats of rotational blackouts. The challenge before us is twofold — meeting rapidly rising electricity demand while accelerating the shift to renewable energy. While long-term, large-scale projects are vital, there are low-hanging [...]
The smarter energy path for Filipinos [Inquirer.net]
by Pete Maniego | December 12, 2025| Published by Philippine Daily Inquirer | READ THE STORY HERE The renewed pitch for nuclear power is seductive: one massive facility promising enormous output, low operating emissions, and the prestige of innovative technology. But beneath this polished promise lies a harder truth. For the Philippines—with our existing grid conditions, oversupplies, ambitious renewable energy goals, and abundant indigenous resources—nuclear is not just unnecessary. It may, in fact, derail the very progress we urgently need. Excess capacity—not scarcity—defines our grid. Contrary to claims that our grid is on the verge of collapse, [...]