Mariano Marcos
State University

Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance, MMSU team up for clean energy future

By Jareason Fabre

A new partnership between industry and academia is set to drive renewable energy innovation as the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA) and Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on July 28 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas. The two institutions will work together to advance research, technology development, and capacity building to support the country’s growing solar and energy storage sector.

The MOU was signed during the PSSEA Annual Assembly by MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr. and PSSEA President and Board Member Jose Rafael Mendoza. The signing was witnessed by PSSEA Chairperson Maria Theresa Capellan and MMSU Center for Affiliated Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Conservation (MMSU-CARE) Project Leader Engr. Thomas Ubiña.

The partnership establishes a framework for cooperation in renewable energy, particularly in the solar and energy storage sectors. It covers joint research initiatives, technical studies, innovation programs, training activities, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge sharing to support the country’s transition toward cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.

Under the agreement, MMSU-CARE will lead research initiatives, engineering studies, system performance analysis, and the development of technical assessment methods for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The center will also conduct diagnostic surveys, field validation, performance testing, and documentation of research outputs to strengthen renewable energy applications.

Meanwhile, PSSEA will help connect the university with industry partners, provide technical data and operational insights, support the dissemination of research findings, and promote the adoption of industry standards and best practices in renewable energy deployment.

Both institutions will also collaborate in strengthening solar PV technical standards, supporting the establishment and operation of a Solar Technology Testing Center (STTC), conducting technical workshops and stakeholder consultations, and ensuring that joint activities align with national policies and professional standards.

“Through this partnership with industry, we can generate innovations, strengthen technical capabilities, and prepare future professionals who will help accelerate the country’s transition to clean and sustainable energy,” President Manzano said.

For PSSEA, the partnership with MMSU strengthens industry-academic collaboration by connecting renewable energy experts with researchers and learners and promoting knowledge exchange, technical advancement, and the adoption of best practices in the solar and energy storage sectors.

PSSEA is a non-stock, non-profit industry association composed of stakeholders in the solar and energy storage sector. It promotes industry collaboration, policy advocacy, and the implementation of best practices to support renewable energy development in the Philippines.

MMSU-CARE, a unit under the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC), leads the university’s initiatives in renewable energy research, energy efficiency, and sustainable technology development, supporting national priorities and community-based innovations.