Negros Occidental hosts 52 renewable energy projects at various stages of development, with a combined potential capacity of 13,208 megawatts (MW), Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.
Fuentebella joined the Negros Occidental Renewable Energy Week Expo 2025 at the SMX Convention Center in Bacolod City on Thursday, July 17, which will run until Saturday, July 19.
The event was led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and former governor Rafael Coscolluela, provincial consultant on energy and environmental concerns.
In his prepared speech, which he did not read at the event but provided to the media, Fuentebella said the 52 projects reflect Negros Occidental’s immense RE potential and its growing role as a key driver of the energy transition.
From solar power, the province can potentially harness 1,347 MW across 17 projects, taking full advantage of its high solar irradiance and expansive land resources, he said.
The province is also rich in hydropower, with 13 awarded service contracts totaling 101.7 MW, offering reliable and clean energy through its rivers and natural water flows, he added.
In terms of geothermal energy, Negros Occidental currently hosts one project with a potential capacity of 5.65 MW, capable of providing additional reliable baseload capacity into the grid, Fuentebella said.
Most impressively, the province’s wind energy potential is estimated at 11,754 MW across 21 projects, positioning Negros Occidental as a future leader in wind development, not just in the Visayas but throughout the country, he said.
“With the right investment climate and enabling infrastructure in place, this RE potential can be a game changer, transforming Negros Occidental into a major hub for clean energy production and a key contributor to national energy security,” he said.
It is a step toward a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable energy future, which is embodied in the energy roadmap – SecuRE Negros – of the Negros Occidental provincial government, he said.
The roadmap lays out clear directions as well as concrete and time-bound actions to guide the province’s transition to a clean energy future, Fuentebella said.
Negros Occidental’s annual event that highlights renewable energy “not only showcases the province’s progressive leadership in advancing sustainable energy but also affirms its unwavering commitment to ensuring that the clean energy transition is inclusive and far-reaching,” he said.
Fuentebella affirmed the Department of Energy’s full support for the vision of SecuRE Negros.
Governor Lacson, in his speech, also reaffirmed Negros Occidental’s commitment to a cleaner and more sustainable energy future.
“This vision – consistent with our Green Economy thrust – is focused on promoting a just transition to renewable energy while addressing issues that affect the industry and its stakeholders, especially our power consuming public,” he said.
“We are walking the talk”, Lacson said, pointing out that the provincial government has signed a contract for the installation of 1,270.5 kilowatts of solar generation capacity in seven of its facilities.
This is at “no cost to us and resulting in substantial savings in electric consumption,” he said.
He also said the goal of the provincial government is for all local government units in the province to “solarize” within the next three years.
The Negros Occidental and Bacolod City officials at the Renewable Energy Week Expo 2025 on Thursday*Richard Malihan photo
The objectives of Negros Occidental’s RE Week 2025 are to:
• Promote investment by engaging private sector participation in energy infrastructure;
• Encourage widespread adoption by educating consumers and communities on RE technologies;
• Showcase innovation through clean energy solutions, technologies, and success stories; and
• Strengthen collaboration among public, private, and community stakeholders.
On display at the expo were electric vehicles, solar panels, and numerous other renewable energy technology.
The Renewable Energy Week Expo 2025 is organized by the Negros Occidental provincial government with the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment Inc. and the Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation.*