Proudly Pinoy Clean Energy Inventions You Should Know About

July 21, 2025

They say necessity is the mother of invention, and few needs are more urgent today than the fight for a cleaner, more sustainable planet. As the world confronts the growing impacts of climate change and dwindling fossil fuel reserves, Filipino inventors are stepping up to the plate with cleaner energy solutions.

Here are three proudly Pinoy innovations in renewable energy—homegrown ideas that are not only practical and forward-thinking but deeply rooted in the country’s unique needs and resilience.

Catching wind, casting light: helping fishermen catch fish

Many Filipino fishermen use battery- or diesel-powered lamps to attract fish and catch them with their nets. Since many fishermen go out at night or before dawn, running out of battery mid-trip often forces them to head home empty-handed. Diesel fuel can also be costly.

To help bridge this gap, engineer Villalon co-founded Dali Innovative Solutions in 2021. The Filipino start-up developed VORTEx—short for Versatile and Offshore Recyclable Turbine for Exergy.

Made from recycled plastic, VORTEx converts wind into electricity. Designed for easy installation on fishing boats, Villalon shared that VORTEx has the potential to reduce fuel costs for fisherfolk by up to 30%.

Thanks to its vertical design, it takes up less space, is efficient even in “low-wind conditions,” and can be installed almost anywhere: on boats, in homes, and remote locations.

Dali Innovations is also developing a larger version of VORTEx aimed at supporting coastal households. “[The bigger version] is enough to power the lights of 3 to 4 homes—good for about 3 to 4 families as well,” said Villalon.

Villalon with the VORTEx Wind Turbine. Image by Vortex Wind Turbine via Facebook.

Check out their website for more on the VORTEx turbine.

(Also read: Empowering Remote Communities Through Microgrids)

From waves to watts: a young innovator’s clean energy vision

Patrick De Guzman believes our waters hold untapped potential as a renewable energy source.

“We’ll never run out of water,” he shared with Vogue Philippines. “Unlike fossil fuels that we have to import and dig out of the ground, water is something we already have in abundance. So why aren’t we using it?”

De Guzman’s solution? The Marissa Turbine, named in honor of his late mother, whose name fittingly means “of the sea.”

The Marissa Turbine is a vertical tidal turbine that converts the motion of water into usable electricity. As water flows and spins the vertical underwater blades, power is generated. A long cable from the water sends this energy to the battery, where it can be stored. Its 2024 prototype can generate around 500 watts of power to support the average Filipino household.

De Guzman’s startup, Saltric, is currently testing the system in rivers across Bulacan, with support from the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office and DLSU AnimoLabs.

“The Marissa Turbine can benefit off-grid communities like those in Mindoro, who are heavily reliant on diesel-based electricity generation,” De Guzman shared.

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A post shared by Saltric (@saltric_inc)

(Also read: Bright Future Ahead: Plans Set for 100% Rural Power Coverage)

Inspired by light, powered by crops: farm waste meets solar tech

Mapua University engineering student Carvey Ehren Maigue is revolutionizing solar energy with a little help from spoiled fruits and vegetables.

“Conventional solar panels can’t absorb ultraviolet light, that’s what my invention provides a solution to,” Maigue shared.

“One of the most important components of my invention is sourced from waste produce. Organic luminescent compounds are derived from fruit and vegetables. These compounds turn high-energy ultraviolet waves into visible light. I use solar panels and solar films to convert this light into electricity,” Maigue explained.

His invention, AuREUS (short for Aurora Renewable Energy and UV Sequestration), is inspired by the science behind the aurora borealis. It works even without direct sunlight, collecting UV light that bounces off buildings, roads, and clouds.

Made from a durable plastic infused with natural luminescent compounds, AuREUS panels can be attached to walls, windows, or other vertical surfaces, turning everyday structures into power sources.

“We can use AuREUS instead of typical glass windows, so that whole buildings can become vertical solar energy farms,” Maigue shared in a Dyson interview.

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A post shared by The James Dyson Award (@jamesdysonaward)

Maigue’s invention not only promotes clean energy, but it also helps farmers by giving new purpose to rotting crops. This dual benefit earned him the first-ever James Dyson Award for Sustainability in 2020, beating over 1,800 entries from around the world.

“I would like to help people access clean, renewable energy here in the Philippines,” Maigue shared in a Dyson interview. “I focused on solar energy because it’s a resource that’s all around us.”

Check out this live demo of AuREUS technology on YouTube.

Sources:

https://ph.linkedin.com/company/dali-innovative-solutions

https://www.facebook.com/KlimatechVortex

https://theindependentinvestor.ph/cleantech-startup-dali-innovations-seeks-funding-to-connect-off-grid-communities/

https://vogue.ph/lifestyle/people/wind-and-waves-youth-inventors-lead-renewable-energy-solutions/

https://klimatech.ph/#page-1

https://saltric.wordpress.com/

http://www.tapi.dost.gov.ph/news/327-these-inventors-found-their-trusted-innovation-partner-in-dost-tapi

https://saltric.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/marissa-turbine-data-sheet-2.png

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HQnIQ6YRGo

https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/2020/project/aureus-aurora-renewable-energy-uv-sequestration