Philippines, Japan ink four-year deal for renewable energy tech
The Department of Energy (DOE) and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) announced a new partnership to boost clean energy investments for both nations.
In a statement Tuesday, Oct. 21, the DOE saidi it signed a memorandum of cooperation (MOC) with METI establishing a collaborative framework, covering knowledge exchange, collaboration on pilot energy projects, policy dialogues, and capacity building.
According to the DOE, the four-year term partnership will allow both nations to exchange technological expertise and best practices—from Japan to the Philippines—in areas including renewable energy (RE), grid integration, energy storage, hydrogen, ammonia, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).
The cooperation is also expected to enhance energy resilience and security, aid in low-carbon development, and pursue climate change mitigation efforts aligned with the Paris Agreement. Moreover, it will support the vision of the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC), an initiative promoting cooperation toward achieving net-zero emissions in Asia.
Implementation will be led by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) for Japan and the Energy Policy and Planning Bureau (EPPB) for the Philippines, according to the DOE.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said she hopes the MOC will invite long-term investments in energy sustainability. “It reflects our unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and building a resilient energy sector that will power our economies for decades to come,” she stated.
“This is not just about reducing emissions; it's about creating jobs, fostering innovation, and improving the quality of life for our citizens. A sustainable energy sector is a foundation for a thriving economy and a healthy society,” she added.
Last week, the DOE established a framework for carbon credit generation and trading to guide developers on obtaining carbon credit certificates (CCCs).
CCCs, which serve as receipts for eliminating one ton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, can be traded in three different markets: the International Compliance Market, the future Domestic Compliance Market (Emissions Trading System), and the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM).