HYDROPOWER developers are seeking government support to accelerate project construction during El Niño, saying lower water levels could provide an opportunity to advance projects despite the weather phenomenon’s potential impact on electricity generation.
PhilHydro Association, Inc. President Francis Joel Arrieta Sayre asked the Department of Energy (DoE) to help developers “maximize the forthcoming El Niño for hydro developers to fast-track development.”
“While the water levels are low which does not bode well for operating hydro plants, it will be easier for hydro construction,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
PhilHydro represents hydropower developers, owners, operators, and technology providers in the Philippines, including Aboitiz Power Corp. and First Gen Corp.
The Philippines is preparing for an El Niño episode that is projected to persist through the first half of 2027, potentially affecting electricity supply as higher temperatures increase power demand and dry conditions reduce hydropower generation.
Hydropower plants depend on water levels in reservoirs and rivers, with reduced water availability potentially limiting their generation capacity.
Hydropower accounted for about 12% of the country’s total installed power generation capacity as of December 2025, according to DoE data.
The department has previously said warmer temperatures could reduce hydropower generation by as much as 40%.
“We are at the crossfire of wars, oil crisis, and political conflict affecting almost every industry globally, and hydro being one of the hardest hit with unfinished projects due to highly inflated costs,” Mr. Sayre said.
The association also expressed support for the DoE’s planned seventh round of the Green Energy Auction (GEA) program, which will include run-of-river hydropower projects.
The department has set an installation target of 175 megawatts (MW) for run-of-river hydropower projects in Mindanao, with delivery scheduled between 2028 and 2031.
Previous auction rounds covered run-of-river hydropower under GEA-1 and pumped-storage hydropower under GEA-3. Projects awarded under these rounds remain under development, with some nearing completion, according to the association.
Mr. Sayre also asked the government to conduct similar auctions in Luzon and the Visayas next year, followed by separate auctions for pumped-storage hydropower and impounding-dam baseload hydropower within the next two years.
He also called for a medium- to long-term hydropower development roadmap aligned with the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050 to help developers plan new projects and expansions based on potential electricity offtake opportunities.
“Hydro can help bring to realization the government’s target of 35% renewable energy share by 2030 and 50% by 2050, but we need support,” Mr. Sayre said. — Sheldeen Joy Talavera