DOE Amends National Hydrogen Policy Framework to Advance Hydrogen Energy Development

On July 08, 2026, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued Department Circular No. DC2026-07-0016, amending the National Policy and General Framework, Roadmap, and Guidelines for Hydrogen in the Energy Sector. The Circular updates the 2024 guidelines to support the phased adoption of hydrogen energy in the Philippines while maintaining the DOE’s regulatory oversight of the downstream hydrogen value chain, including manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution, and utilization for power and non-power applications.

A key feature of the amended framework is the strengthened role of the Hydrogen Energy Industry Committee (HEIC). The HEIC is tasked with overseeing the development of the hydrogen industry and formulating the National Strategic Roadmap for Hydrogen and its Derivatives. The Circular also revises the composition of the Technical Working Group (TWG), principally composing it of designated DOE personnel responsible for developing and updating implementing guidelines covering technical standards, safety and environmental standards, research and development, applications and utilization, demonstration projects, and capacity building. Representatives from relevant government agencies, industry, academe, research institutions, professional associations, and other stakeholders may also be invited as resource persons, technical advisers, or members of sub-working groups.

The Circular expands the scope of the policy by expressly covering hydrogen derivatives, including ammonia. To provide greater regulatory clarity, hydrogen may be classified based on its feedstock and production pathway, described through color-based terminology, or characterized according to its lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon intensity. Color-based classifications are intended only to indicate feedstock and production method and do not, by themselves, confer regulatory status, entitlement to incentives, or certification of environmental attributes.

The amended framework also identifies the fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for which hydrogen-related projects may be evaluated or endorsed. Green hydrogen initiatives may qualify for incentives under the Renewable Energy Act, while research and development activities and hydrogen fueling stations may be eligible for incentives under the CREATE MORE Act and other applicable laws. Hydrogen transport initiatives may likewise be evaluated for incentives under the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), while projects demonstrating measurable energy efficiency improvements or emissions reductions may qualify under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Act.