Louie Villalon and Patrick De Guzman are two young Filipino inventors who are tackling the Philippines’ energy challenges with innovative renewable energy solutions. Both share a belief that change requires identifying problems and finding solutions. “I always ask myself, ‘What is the problem?’ And then, after identifying the problem, ‘How can I help?’” Villalon shares.
Villalon co-founded Dali Innovative Solutions in 2021, a start-up dedicated to providing renewable energy to off-grid communities in the Philippines. The company’s flagship invention is the VORTEx, short for Versatile and Offshore Recyclable Turbine for Exergy. This small-scale energy solution harnesses the power of the wind to create electricity using recycled plastic materials.
The VORTEx is currently in the development stage, with a pilot model funded by Shell being tested in a facility in Mindoro. Dali hopes to utilize the VORTEx to help Philippine fisherfolk power lights on their bangkas (small native boats). “Most fisherfolk still use conventional technologies, such as diesel engines,” Louie explains. “However, this can lower fishing yields due to the noise of the engine. They also use small battery packs to power lamps, which attract fish to shallow depths for them to catch with nets. But if there’s no light, there’s no catch. Simply putting up a battery that can be recharged along the way can improve their yield.”
Many Filipino fishermen work late nights and early mornings, and when their batteries run low in the middle of the ocean, they’re forced to return home without a catch. By attaching the VORTEx to their fishing boats, they’ll be able to produce energy on the go, powered solely by the wind. The device was first conceptualized in Batangas, and Louie hopes to expand its use to other areas in the country such as Bicol, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, and Cagayan de Oro.
Patrick De Guzman, on the other hand, sees the potential of using ocean waves as a source of energy. “We don’t run out of water,” he shares. “It’s not like before where our fossil fuels needed to be dug up, imported from other countries to the Philippines. The Philippines have lots of water. Why aren’t we using it?” The 23-year-old law student is the brains behind the Marissa Turbine, named after his late mother. The name is fitting, as Marissa means “of the sea.”
The Marissa Turbine generates energy through the waves. As the water moves, it spins the submerged turbine, generating energy that is stored in a generator. A long wire then transmits this energy from the sea to the shore. Emphasizing eco-friendly design, the sleek and minimal component linked to the turbine is made of acrylic materials similar to those used in water jugs. In its current form, the Marissa Turbine can generate 500 watts of power, enough to power one Filipino household.
De Guzman’s start-up, Saltric, which is incubated by Ateneo Intellectual Property Office and DLSU AnimoLabs, is currently testing the invention in Bulacan rivers. The Marissa Turbine was also showcased and won awards at the 2024 Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards by Entrepreneurs Organization held in Singapore in April 2024. De Guzman ultimately aims to introduce the turbine to communities in Occidental Mindoro, a province that often faces power crises. In April 2023, a state of calamity was declared in the area when 20-hour daily power outages lasted for a month and a half.
Both Villalon and De Guzman emphasize the importance of passion, authenticity, and a commitment to societal impact in their work. “You need to remember three things: You need to be passionate. You must be authentic, and it must be tremendous,” De Guzman shares. “Don’t just do it for yourself, do it for society, right?”
Louie and Patrick’s renewable innovations offer a glimmer of hope amidst the Philippines’ energy challenges, including depleting gas fields, increasing electricity costs, and frequent blackouts. The VORTEx and the Marissa Turbine hold the potential to pave the way for a more energy-independent future in the Philippines.
