ABSTRACT
To avoid energy scarcity and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, the Philippines has pushed renewable energy development over decades. Renewables meet a substantial part of the country’s electricity demand, but their share in the electricity mix is constantly decreasing due to massive current and future investments in coal. The Philippine case reveals and illustrates very clearly how power struggles and complex governance structures shape an energy transition towards renewables. Shifting the electricity system towards sustainable energy does not only depend on supportive policies and incentive structures, but also on broader sociopolitical factors such as corruption, clientelism and interpersonal relations. Coordination across different jurisdictional levels and the fragmented distribution of power resources and capacities are additional factors influencing the Philippine energy transition. Bi-and multilateral donors have successfully implemented renewable energy projects, but they often struggle to sustain their activities for more than a few years, replicate results or institutionalize efforts for renewable energy development.
