Renewable Energy Infrastructure Resilience Tested as a Supertyphoon Approaches the Philippines - CleanTechnica

The article from CleanTechnica discusses the resilience of renewable energy infrastructure in the Philippines as Super Typhoon Fung-Wong (Uwan) approaches, potentially reaching Category 5 strength. It highlights the critical challenge faced by the country, which experiences an average of 24 tropical cyclones annually, in balancing the urgent transition to renewable energy with the need to withstand extreme weather events. The Philippines serves as a unique case study for engineering renewable energy systems that must not only operate efficiently under normal conditions but also survive and recover quickly from powerful typhoons. Key engineering strategies for resilience include prioritizing structural survival and rapid recovery alongside energy generation capacity, which may require sacrificing some efficiency. Material science and structural engineering play vital roles, with installations like the 150-MW Solar Philippines Concepcion Solar PV Park employing deep concrete foundations anchored to stable soil or bedrock to resist uplift forces and maintain integrity despite heavy rainfall and soil saturation. Additionally, the use of Galvalume-coated steel provides corrosion resistance in humid, coastal