The Department of Energy (DOE) has handed over three mobile energy system (MES) solar-powered units to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to bolster national defense, disaster preparedness and energy resiliency.
The DOE, in collaboration with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Energy Secure Philippines and Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI), conducted an operations and maintenance training and turnover ceremony for the MES on July 29, 2025, at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo.
The training equipped AFP personnel with practical skills to operate and maintain the MES units, enhancing the military’s capacity for rapid disaster response, secure critical missions and sustained energy availability in remote or high-risk zones.
“The mobile energy system is a force multiplier. It energizes our frontliners, supports mission-critical operations, and delivers on the President’s call for a resilient and secure energy future,” said Felix William Fuentebella, DOE Undersecretary and chairperson of the Task Force on Energy Resiliency.
Fuentebella led the ceremony, with Brig. Gen. Armand Arevalo accepting the units on behalf of AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.
Each MES unit is a mobile, solar-powered system housed within a 20-foot trailer. It features 9.18 kWp solar panels, a 60 kVA hybrid inverter and 102.4 kWh of battery storage.
These units can supply immediate, off-grid power to command centers, hospitals and other essential operations during emergencies or in hard-to-reach locations.
The MES has already demonstrated its effectiveness, powering typhoon-affected areas in Cagayan (Sta. Ana and Lal-lo) and recently deployed to remote Palawan islands (Pag-asa and Balabac).
“These systems are more than equipment—they are part of a long-term strategy for energy resiliency. Their success depends on the skill and readiness of our personnel,” Fuentebella said.
The MES program strengthens the collaboration between the DOE and the AFP, advancing the country’s capability to respond to emergencies, safeguard national security and maintain reliable energy in challenging conditions.
