Philline van der Wolk-Donggay calls Mindanao home, where over 1 million people have no access to electricity. Mindanao has the lowest number of electrified households among the Philippines’ three island groups. As the co-founder of Greenergy Solar PH, Philline builds resilient energy systems to make “distributed, decentralized, and democratized electricity” a reality.
When Philline and her team switched on the solar power system at a health center in post-conflict Marawi City, the waiting room erupted in applause. On that sweltering day in 2019, women and children felt immediate relief as electric fans and other equipment whirred to life. They later trained local youth through TESDA to maintain the systems, creating sustainable employment opportunities.
In Sultan Kudarat, her team hiked through rough terrain to install solar panels in indigenous communities. The company also installed solar-powered streetlights and irrigation systems across the region, addressing basic infrastructure needs in areas where transmission lines haven’t quite reached. “It’s real impact on real people who we otherwise maybe don’t see,” she said.
Greenergy Solar PH is the first commercial brand for solar rooftop installations based in Mindanao.
The endeavor started 17 years ago as a small consultancy. Philline and her cousin lugged around dioramas, dressing up as the sun and solar panels to help communities understand how the technology worked.
“It’s not household knowledge to understand how solar works,” she explained. “Translating highly technical language for the masses, that’s very crucial work for solar and renewable energy.”
It was a hard push for about five to six years before Greenergy Solar PH took off.
The company has since installed over 4 MW solar energy systems, illuminated 500+ kilometers of roads, irrigated more than 2,000 hectares of farmlands, and served over 100 cities and municipalities in Southern Philippines.
“It’s really just the idea of the sun being the most powerful energy source in the universe,” Philline said. “Plants have been taking advantage of that since the beginning of the earth.”
Currently, Philline is working with the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines on a proposal to convert existing hydropower plants into grid-scale battery storage. During the day, solar power would fuel the grid while conserving water in hydropower plants which will run at night when there’s no more sun.
What excites her most is the proposal’s ownership structure. “We’re proposing democratized ownership. All Mindanao power consumers will have equity in this system,” she shared, drawing inspiration from European models. In the Netherlands, for instance, solar power plants are owned by the communities that directly benefit from them.
The proposal was since submitted to the Department of Energy and Office of the President.
Philline’s familiarity with renewables has deep roots. Growing up near the Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan, Philline lived close to hydropower facilities where her father worked. The sound of alarms signaling water release became part of her daily routine, as did the sight of lush forests and animal life surrounding her home.
“Healthy nature can feed into a healthy industry. I really took that with me,” she reflected. This early exposure to renewable energy laid the foundation for her future career, though her path there was anything but direct.
Transitioning to a renewable energy job
Before becoming a renewable energy pioneer, Philline worked in television and writing. Her turning point came in 2009 when she became one of the first ten Filipinos trained by Al Gore for the Climate Reality Project.
As the sole representative from Mindanao, she felt a deep responsibility to act. She juggled her job with volunteer work in organizations like Greenpeace and 350.org, eventually landing a role with the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Climate and Energy Team.
Philline took on the role of project leader for the Philippine government’s renewable energy pathways. It was at this moment that she had a huge realization: “I can talk about renewables with all the policy recommendations, but if there are no suppliers at the regional level, how can people have access to these renewable energy technologies?”
This insight prompted her to push for creating a solar business unit within Greenergy. Today, the company is fully owned and operated by Mindanaoans, employing local talent across various roles from engineers and technicians to HR, finance, sales, and administration professionals, even drivers. The sector is also inclusive for women, according to Philline.
“There is no shortage of opportunities and roles to play,” she said. “If you can make a contribution to a regular company, you can make that same contribution to our renewable energy company.”
For those interested in joining the sector, Philline recommends starting with internships or volunteering on the side.
“We pay our interns,” she added. “Come into the space… Really see how it works.”
Watt’s Next?
Philline and Greenergy Solar PH’s story points to a broader shift in the energy sector. Jobs in renewable energy are booming and it’s here to stay.
Renewables created 2.5 million jobs globally in 2023, with Asia accounting for more than two-thirds of jobs. Figures are also poised to rise due to the COP29 breakthrough agreement to triple financing in developing countries.
Watt’s Next is a renewable energy jobs campaign led by Jobs that makesense Asia that offers up-to-date job listings, training programs, and events for jobseekers in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.
To explore career opportunities in green energy, visit the Watt’s Next portal or join its virtual networking event.
Diinsider Life is a media partner of Jobs that makesense Asia’s Watt’s Next campaign.