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DOE wants to help the industry meet its Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPSs) through competitive auctions.

A bill that is currently passing through the Philippines Senate would allow commercial and industrial (C&I) entities to optimise the use of their rooftops with solar power, while also helping reduce costs for housing initiatives for the underprivileged, according to the head of a Filipino trade association.

The new chairperson of the Philippines Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has showed clear intention to solve the huge build-up of pending approvals of power projects, in what she dubbed as the ‘Zero Backlog Program’.

Filipino energy secretary Alfonso Cusi has euphemistically admitted that the suspension of four commissioners of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) may cause delays in power projects, while the already inert solar industry has seen conditions go from bad to worse.

Submissions for Thailand’s first 300MW hybrid PPA scheme, which encourages use of energy storage to supplement renewable energy generation, are due by 20 October.

Utility-scale solar projects and hundreds of other power projects in the Philippines are being held up by pending approvals at the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), a problem compounded by last week’s dismissal of ERC chairman Jose Vicente Salazar for grave misconduct related to allegations of corruption.

Political changes over the last four years and the recent death of King Bhumibol has brought some inertia to the Thailand market, but industry members expect the market will return to strong growth in the second half of 2017.

The Thai Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) has announced new solar development plans for 2017, which open up several opportunities for foreign investors to participate.

A provision in the Philippines giving medium-scale electricity consumers the ability to choose between retail electricity suppliers other than the local utility has had a major boost after a Supreme Court issuance in its favour.