Pumped hydro key in PH’s clean energy shift

This technology offers long-duration storage for the country.

Pumped hydropower is seen as a vital component in the Philippines' clean energy transition, which should be supported by clear policies.

“The industry stands ready to deliver, but these efforts can be accelerated further with policy settings that take into account the long development times and considerable upfront costs of pumped hydro,” said Helen Barbour-Bourne, International Hydropower Association board member and GHD’s sector lead for hydropower.

The Philippines is already investing in pumped hydro as the country seeks to achieve 50% renewable energy mix by 2040. The Third Green Energy Auction aimed for 4,000 megawatts of pumped hydro storage, but received 6,350 MW of pumped hydro being offered.

The country is also one of 55 economies and international agencies that met in Paris in September to endorse a global framework to accelerate investment in pumped hydro.

“With many of the country’s 8,000 islands still dependent on diesel generators, there is a pressing need for integrated solutions that provide energy security and reduce emissions at the same time,” Barbour-Bourne said.

IHA’s 2025 World Hydropower Outlook said that 600 gigawatts (GW) of pumped hydro projects are currently in various stages of development globally. Other ASEAN countries expanding their pumped hydro capacity include Thailand, Indonesia and Laos.

The IHA has called for governments and non-state actors to support the global energy storage target of 1,500 GW by 2030, and to go further by setting even higher targets for 2035 and beyond.