THE European Union (EU) and the Department of Energy (DOE) officially launched a project that will assist the National Government in expanding its sustainable energy generation to meet the growing needs of its economy and provide energy access to poor and marginalized sector in accordance with the Philippine Development Plan.

The Access to Sustainable Energy Programme-Clean Energy Living Laboratories (ASEP-CELL), launched Monday morning, October 28, at the Little Theater of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, is a project funded by the European Union and implemented by the Ateneo School of Government in partnership with Manila Observatory, ICLEI-SEAS, Xavier University and University of San Carlos.

The project, according to Dr. Josef Yap, the senior technical adviser of Ateneo School of Government, will link universities and research institutions in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao to support the DOE to enhance energy policy-making and program interventions through research studies and capacity-building activities advocacy programs.

ASEP-CELL also helps in increasing public awareness and stakeholder engagement to sustain political support and commitment to a low-carbon energy pathway, energy efficiency, and greater energy access.

It is also through the project that the European Union allocated a grant of over P3 billion to assist the national government to meet its rural electrification targets by means of renewable energy and to promote energy efficiency.

The project launch on Monday also underscore the project's research agenda in relation to national and local energy challenges.