Energy startup Saltric plans to deploy 180 units of the Marissa Turbine in Northern Luzon this year, marking a shift from pilot testing to region-wide commercial use for the locally developed hydrokinetic technology.
“My vision is to establish the Philippines as a leader in ocean renewable power,” said De Guzman, founder of Saltric and inventor of Marissa Turbine.
The Marissa Turbine generates 500 watts of electricity from flowing water currents and is designed for remote mountainous and island communities where traditional energy infrastructure is often difficult or costly to build.
Constructed with a corrosion-resistant steel frame and foundations built to withstand typhoons, the turbine features 3D-printed blades made from single-use plastic bottles. The design is intended to minimize harm to aquatic life while providing a continuous power source.
Saltric is offering the units at P150,000 each and is advancing proposals in areas such as Catbalogan City in Samar where strong currents converge near bridges. The company is also developing new models tailored for agricultural applications and hotel and resort operators.
Past pilot runs have demonstrated the technology’s viability. A prototype in the Meycauayan River in Bulacan provided lighting and refrigeration for local fishers through a partnership with SM Cares and the Global Peace Foundation.
Another unit in the Angat River, supported by the Department of Science and Technology and the University of the Philippines–Los Baños, successfully powered 2 households.
De Guzman said that while the technology can reduce dependence on imported fuel, large-scale deployment remains dependent on permitting processes, tariff structures and grid integration rules.
The inventor secured patents and trademarks through the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office and the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines to protect the 10 years of development and 5 design iterations behind the turbine.
“Protection allows you to share the technology with the world without losing it,” De Guzman said.
“Beyond the 20-year protection term, what remains is the growth of knowledge,” he said.
