Australia’s energy grid strategy holds key lessons for Philippines

SYDNEY, Australia - As the Philippines anticipates the entry of new capacity to meet growing electricity demand, the country should learn from Australia's coordination between transmission and generation.

- Sheldeen Joy Talavera Reporter

“One area where Australia might allow us to learn from and apply to the Philippines is the planning and enabling of the transmission and energy storage system needed now and into the future,” ACEN Australia Executive Chairman Jose Maria Zabaleta told visiting reporters here.

“There can be no successful energy transition and self-sufficiency without new transmission and energy storage capacity.”

While coal dominates the power generation mix of Australia and the Philippines, both countries have set ambitious targets to increase the share of renewable energy.

Among the evident energy players in both these countries is ACEN Corp., the listed energy platform of conglomerate Ayala Corp.

The company’s portfolio has around 7 gigawatts (GW) of attributable renewable capacity in operation, under construction, and in committed projects. Aside from the Philippines and Australia, ACEN also operates in Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Laos, and the United States.

ACEN Australia is the subsidiary of ACEN that manages its renewable energy assets in the country. The company is currently gearing up for a 2-GW pipeline of projects over the next three years.

Mr. Zabaleta said that the company works with all the different stakeholders in each location “to enable the optimal outcome of each project.”