The Ocean as an Untapped Power Grid
With its vast coastlines, the Philippines is no stranger to the unrelenting power of waves and tides. According to researchers Justin Kyle O. Ricafort and King Harold A. Recto of the Ateneo de Manila University Department of Electronics, Computer, and Communications Engineering, the Philippines’ coastal waters have a total theoretical potential power of as much as 170 gigawatts—compared to the country’s current installed capacity of 32 gigawatts.
The Numbers That Demand Attention
“Although not all of the ocean’s power is practically recoverable, harnessing even just 18 to 20 percent of the archipelago’s total tidal energy is theoretically sufficient to cover the Philippines’ current power consumption,” Ricafort explained. This is not a marginal contribution to the energy mix. It is a potential replacement for the nation’s entire electricity demand.
Where the Currents Are Strongest
Three Strategic Straits
Ricafort and Recto identify the San Bernardino Strait, San Juanico Strait, and Cebu Strait as among the most viable sites for tidal-stream energy systems based on water current speeds, proximity to population centers, and access to electrical grids.
A Live Pilot Project
Near Capul Island in Northern Samar, a one-megawatt tidal-stream system is already being installed to replace diesel-powered generators supplying the remote community. The researchers describe this as a model for expanding marine renewable energy across the country.
Why This Matters Now
For decades, the Philippines has relied heavily on expensive imported fuels like coal and natural gas, exposing the national grid to global market swings and price shocks. Global energy disruptions and geopolitical tensions have repeatedly exposed how fragile that dependence can be, often driving electricity prices higher for ordinary Filipinos.
The Energy Trilemma and a Different Path
Ricafort and Recto argue that tidal energy offers a path rooted in resources already flowing through Philippine waters. Beyond generating electricity, they recognize tidal energy as a key opportunity to address the energy trilemma—the challenge of balancing sustainability, energy equity, and energy security.
While the technology remains costly compared to solar and wind setups, the research suggests that long-term investment and larger-scale deployment could eventually lower costs and expand access to reliable electricity, especially in underserved coastal areas.
The sea has always been more than geography for Filipinos. It feeds families, carries livelihoods between islands, and shapes the rhythm of everyday life. In a time of deepening energy uncertainty, the answer to the country’s energy future may have been moving along its shores all along.