TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's potential collaboration with the Philippines on renewable energy development could establish a long-term energy supply chain, according to the Taiwan Research Institute (TRI, 台灣綜合研究院) on Tuesday (Dec. 10). Economic Minister J. W. Kuo (郭智輝) recently proposed developing green energy in the Philippines and transporting it back to Taiwan via submarine cables.
TRI predicts that the Philippines' electricity demand will grow by over 5% annually from 2022 to 2050. By 2050, total electricity sales will increase more than fourfold, with peak demand expected to reach 68.5 GW. The institute highlights that while the Philippines relies on geothermal and hydropower, low-enthalpy geothermal and micro-hydropower will become future focuses, with photovoltaic and wind technologies at the core of energy transformation.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI, 工研院) points to the Philippines' vast green energy potential, with solar capacity at 60 GW, wind at 90 GW, and hydropower at 300 GW. However, CECI (世曦工程) advisors caution that constructing submarine cables poses challenges, particularly given the Luzon Strait's depth of over 3,000 meters.
Industry representatives emphasize the need for international developers to lead the submarine cable project to ensure feasibility. ECOVE Environment Corporation (崑鼎綠能環保) notes that while photovoltaic installation costs in the Philippines are lower than in Taiwan, investors must consider political stability and currency exchange factors. Scholars suggest that Taiwanese businesses collaborate with nonprofits or international allies to overcome local political and diplomatic barriers, facilitating successful investment plans in the Philippines.
