Analysis of the Constraints in the Renewable Energy Sector within a Multi-level Energy Transition Perspective (MLP): The Case of the Philippines

Abstract

As an emerging economy, there are stumbling blocks for the Philippines that it needs to overcome to actualize its growth potentials. One major challenge is providing energy to its growing economy and population without sacrificing energy security and sustainability. This paper explores the country's energy system within a multi-level decision-making energy approach (MLP) to better understand the context and nature of barriers in the renewable energy (RE) sector. Analysis show that: first, past crisis continue to have lingering effects, brought positive and negative consequences, in the electricity sector; second the energy security goal is only focused on increasing capacity generation but in reality has only led to increased share of conventional energy such as coal; and lastly, the unbundling of the electricity sector under the EPIRA Law has paved the way for oligopoly/monopoly to thrive, it has created a fragmented energy structure, and has allowed greater costs for the consumers. All of these have pose greater barriers for RE to thrive and, ultimately, is hindering the country from achieving a sustainable energy transition.