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Screenshot from: ANC The Clean Energy Shift

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<div style="line-height:1"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176394662522620251117081116_clean energy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Screenshot from: ANC The Clean Energy Shift </em></span></span></span></div><p style="line-height:1">Asia&#x27;s reliance on fossil fuel-based energy systems, combined with large manufacturing sectors creates a difficult environment for both climate stability and long-term business performance.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Hannah Broman, Senior Policy Manager for Energy System at RE100, explained that companies that committed early to renewable power purchase agreements have secured long-term stability in energy prices. These companies are thriving compared to competitors that stayed dependent on fossil energy markets. Artificially high prices imposed on corporate users further slow renewable expansion and strain company finances.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Artificially elevated energy prices at present are hurting the build-out of clean energy infrastructure. However, it is also clear that early adopters gain stability, while companies tied to fossil volatility face growing risk.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;It just makes commercial sense and we do not even have to start talking about the climate to see why this shift is happening,&quot; shared Broman. </p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><div style="line-height:1"><strong>Becoming a regional leader in renewable sourcing</strong></div><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The Philippines continues to gain attention in Southeast Asia for its increasing participation in renewable procurement and policy support. </p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">While the country is one of the major sources of semiconductors around the globe, the industry is now pressed to shift to clean energy. The industry is now facing the most pressure from their customers with the imperative of procuring clean energy to meet their decarbonization goals.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Another significant barrier is the process of shifting to clean energy in the country is too complicated. The industry points to layers of administrative and contractual requirements. However, despite the challenges, Suji Kang, Program Director of the Asia Clean Energy Coalition called the corporate renewable procurement a &quot;win-win-win solution,&quot; explaining that long-term fixed pricing supports buyers, provides bankability for developers, and expands national renewable capacity.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Sharing the example from Malaysia&#x27;s Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS) model which demonstrates policy impact. Noting that as the Malaysian government reacted to their advocacy efforts and cut down the price by 20%, the country made its Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) cost-effective. </p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">&quot;We are trying to move into a more technical phase where we can actually provide some sort of specific solutions by mobilizing the different lessons learned across different countries,&quot; said Suji Kang, Program Director of Asia Clean Energy Coalition.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><div style="line-height:1"><strong>Industry lag in decarbonization</strong></div><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Investor interest in the Philippines continues to rise. According to Department of Energy Undersecretary Rowena Guevara, &quot;the Philippines is number 2 in terms of attractiveness in investing in renewable energy among emerging markets.&quot; The undersecretary also cited that strong participation in recent green energy auctions, in which companies compete to develop renewable energy projects offered by the government.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Guevara also reported that the government has awarded around 6,600 megawatts in the first green auction and 9,400 megawatts in the fourth. Part of the long-term strategy includes encouraging early retirement by allowing operators to use transition credits to replace coal facilities with renewable projects. </p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><div style="line-height:1"><strong>Green energy and storage capacity</strong></div><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">ACEN Corporation President and CEO Eric Francia recalled the company&#x27;s longstanding aspiration &quot;to be a purely renewable and sustainable organization. Fifteen years ago, however, national energy demands required reliable and affordable power, which at that time meant coal. Technological maturity later opened the door to a different path, and eight years ago ACEN made what Francia called &quot;that bold pivot, that bold shift into renewables.&quot;</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The company now operates fully renewable generation in all assets it owns and manages. However, a remaining challenge lies in customers who still rely on coal-based supply. Francia explains that ACEN purchases from third-party sources, manages the risk, and delivers energy as customers work toward their own transition.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">Francia expects that by 2040, their renewable fleet will be fully complemented by energy storage, creating value for both businesses and households. He notes that renewable energy purchases offer an additional advantage since they are exempt from the 12% VAT.</p><div style="line-height:1"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/176394657864920251117081116_forum.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">(Left to right) Eric Francia, ACEN President and CEO; Rowena Guevara, Department of Energy Undersecretary; Hannah Broman, Senior Policy Manager for Energy System at RE100; Suji Kang, Program Director of Asia Clean Energy Coalition; Rico Hizon, ANC Anchor. <em>Screenshot from: ANC The Clean Energy Shift </em></span></span></span></div><p style="line-height:1">Francia views the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) as a strong opportunity if households may access it directly without friction costs. However, Francia stresses that the transition has to be responsible, inclusive, and most importantly, sustainable.</p><div style="line-height:1"> </div><p style="line-height:1">The positive momentum strengthens as Usec. Guevara ends by foreseeing that &quot;five years from now we will have a green energy option at the household level.&quot;</p><div style="line-height:1"><br/></div>

<p>Asia's transition to clean energy continues to accelerate as industries confront higher costs and increased pressure to decarbonize.</p>

Asia's transition to clean energy continues to accelerate as industries confront higher costs and increased pressure to decarbonize.

Asia's clean energy shift gains corporate momentum rise

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Asia's clean energy shift gains corporate momentum rise

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Published November 24, 2025 09:14 AM PHT

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