IN REMOTE mountain villages and far-flung islands where extending the power grid remains costly and complex, access to electricity is still uneven. For Patrick De Guzman, these gaps highlight the need for practical, localized renewable solutions.
Through his startup Saltric Power, he developed the Marissa Turbine, a hydrokinetic system that generates electricity directly from flowing water without requiring large dams. Protected as a utility model and industrial design and secured under a registered trademark, the turbine is crafted for rivers and coastal areas with steady currents.
The turbine is designed for durability and continuous operation. Built with a corrosion-resistant steel frame and engineered to withstand strong currents and typhoons, it can be anchored directly to riverbeds. Its blades are 3D-printed from recycled single-use plastic bottles, intended to minimize harm to aquatic life. Each unit can generate up to 500 watts of electricity as long as water flows.
“My vision is to establish the Philippines as a leader in ocean renewable power,” De Guzman said.
The prototype
Saltric has tested its technology in real-world settings. A pilot installation along the Meycauayan River in Obando, Bulacan, supported by SM Cares and the Global Peace Foundation, provided lighting and refrigeration support for local fishers.
“The Meycauayan pilot showed us how immediate the benefits could be. Fishers reduced fuel expenses and had more flexibility in their operations. It validated that the system works in real community settings,” De Guzman said.
A second prototype was later installed in the Angat River, supported by funding from the Department of Science and Technology and technical assistance from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. The turbine powered two households, supplying electricity for laptops, mobile phones, and electric fans using river current alone.
“These are small deployments, but they prove the concept,” De Guzman said. “Renewable energy doesn’t always have to start with megaprojects. It can begin at the community level and scale from there.”
Saltric now plans to transition from pilot testing to broader commercial rollout in 2026. The company targets the deployment of 180 units in Northern Luzon and aims to reach 500 kilowatts in installed capacity within five years. It is also developing turbine models tailored for hotel and resort operators as well as agricultural applications.
De Guzman sees hydrokinetic systems as complementary to the country’s broader renewable energy targets, including the Department of Energy’s 2040 goal of achieving a 50-50 energy mix between renewable and conventional sources.
Mapping studies by the Japan International Cooperation Agency have identified more than 200 potential sites for small-scale hydroelectric projects in selected areas of the country, highlighting the resource base available.
Protecting innovation
Scaling energy technology, however, depends not only on engineering but also on regulatory frameworks. Permitting requirements, tariff structures, grid interconnection rules, and investment incentives shape how quickly renewable projects can move forward.
“The technology is already there. What determines success now is policy – how easy it is to deploy, how tariffs are structured, and how systems are integrated into the grid. That’s something innovators need to understand,” De Guzman said.
To better navigate these complexities, De Guzman is now pursuing law studies, focusing on energy and intellectual property regulation. He admitted that intellectual property was not a priority at the start of the venture, recalling that he initially hesitated to file patents out of concern that public disclosure might expose his ideas.
“That changed when an engineer told me, ‘You have to patent this. It’s your portfolio as an inventor,” he recalled. “I realized patents are not just about protection. They establish credibility and allow you to share technology without losing ownership. And beyond the 20-year protection period, what remains is documented knowledge. That becomes part of the body of science. Others can build on it.”
Through the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office – part of the Innovation and Technology Support Office Program of the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines – Saltric received assistance from drafting to filing.
The DOST’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute covered utility model and industrial design fees, while IPOPHL’s Youth IP Incentive program reduced costs and accelerated trademark registration.
In December 2025, Saltric won the top award in the professional category of IPOPHL’s Socially Relevant Technologies competition, underscoring its positioning as a locally developed renewable energy solution.
In the near term, Saltric plans to develop fully submersible turbines designed for deeper ocean deployment, with the long-term objective of generating power at larger scale. The name Saltric reflects this direction, referencing the harnessing of saltwater currents in larger bodies of water.
