THE Department of Energy (DOE) has identified an initial 369 unserved and underserved areas covering more than 101,000 households for possible inclusion in its upcoming microgrid auction.
The potential project sites are spread across 23 provinces: Antique, Basilan, Bohol, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Cebu, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Eastern Samar, Lanao del Sur, Marinduque, Masbate, Negros Occidental, Northern Samar, Palawan, Quezon, Samar, Southern Leyte, Sulu, Surigao del Sur, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga del Sur.
The DOE said the list, which covers about 101,468 households without electricity, remains subject to validation and revision.
Its early release is intended to give prospective microgrid service providers (MGSPs) time to conduct preliminary technical assessments and prepare investment plans ahead of competitive selection process (CSP) rounds under the Microgrid Systems Act.
“Through microgrid development, we want to bring reliable and affordable electricity closer to communities that remain unserved, while giving capable investors a clear pathway to help us deliver it,” Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said.
The DOE plans to use the assessment framework in future CSP rounds to improve the identification, evaluation and prioritization of microgrid projects.
A second phase is also being prepared to assess and validate an additional 15 to 25 unserved and underserved areas.
Areas on the initial list could be added, removed, validated, reclassified, clustered or refined based on updated technical information, consultations with stakeholders and policy considerations, the DOE said.
A final list aligned with the National Total Electrification Roadmap will be released before each applicable CSP round.
Areas not included in a particular round may still be considered for electrification through unsolicited proposals, the DOE said.
Qualified MGSPs, distribution utility-operated MGSPs and other authorized entities may also independently assess potential microgrid projects outside the published list, subject to applicable requirements.