DOE taps solar storage to end power outages in critical Lanao del Sur hospitals
Public health facilities in Lanao del Sur are set to receive an energy upgrade as the Department of Energy (DOE) and its international partners prepare to install 170 kilowatt-peak of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems equipped with battery storage.
In a statement, the DOE said the initiative aims to provide reliable and renewable power to critical medical infrastructure in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, where energy stability remains a persistent challenge for provincial healthcare delivery.
The deployment is led by the DOE’s Mindanao Field Office in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the BARMM Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy.
Supported by the Japanese government, the project is part of a coordinated effort to modernize provincial infrastructure through the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Access to Climate Security and Health Services (RE3ACHS) program.
The DOE estimated the total value of these solar developments across four key health facilities at approximately ₱33 billion.
Construction and integration are scheduled to meet a completion deadline within the first quarter of 2026.
According to the department’s technical specifications, the Tamparan Provincial Hospital will receive a 40 kilowatt-peak rooftop solar array supported by 140 kilowatt-hour battery storage.
The Provincial Infirmary in Marawi City is slated for a 30 kilowatt-peak facility with 60 kilowatt-hours of storage, while both the Wao District Hospital and the Dr. Serapio B. Montañer Jr. Al-Haj Memorial Hospital will each be equipped with 50 kilowatt-peak solar systems and 100 kilowatt-hour battery backups.
This project forms a cornerstone of the Japan Supplementary Budget 2024 Climate Promise Initiative, which targets the adoption of cleaner energy in underserved Philippine regions.
By shifting away from a dependence on expensive and carbon-intensive diesel generators, the provincial hospitals are expected to achieve least-cost operations for their most vital functions.
Energy Undersecretary Mario Marasigan said that hospitals require uninterrupted electricity to maintain cooling systems for medicine, lighting, and life-saving medical equipment. Marasigan noted that the integration of battery storage ensures that these facilities can maintain continuous power during grid instability while simultaneously reducing long-term operating expenses.
Beyond the immediate fiscal and operational benefits, the move aligns with the national government's broader decarbonization goals.
A feasibility study conducted by the DOE suggests that these four solar installations will prevent approximately 8.67 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions over the next 20 years. This transition to solar-plus-storage models is increasingly viewed as a template for boosting climate resilience in the country’s most vulnerable geographic areas.