Data center boom in Philippines could raise electricity prices

The Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance warned that the data center boom could strain electricity supply and push power prices higher unless the government implements policies to prevent price shocks. PE2 president Alexander Ablaza cited IEA data showing global data centers growing 70 percent annually, driven by AI, and said clustered facilities could require up to 30 percent of local grid capacity. He urged the Department of Energy to require on-site generation and storage. The government promotes the Philippines as a data center hub. Online protests followed approval of the Pax Silica hub in Tarlac, whose projected 3-gigawatt demand has prompted DOE to explore power guidelines.