RP aims for 40% energy sufficiency in two years

The Department of Energy (DOE) aims to achieve a 40 percent renewable energy ((RE) sufficiency in the next two years to lessen the country’s dependence on imported fossil fuel.

DOE secretary Angelo T. Reyes said in an interview that the Philippine government is now on its critical stage in achieving lesser dependence on “imported polluted sources of energy.”

Reyes said that the government is willing to take the challenge of setting up in place policy structures for renewable energy to flourish.

“We [government] will draw policies to facilitate transition to renewable energy as option or to compete with fossil fuel. Government will also create a market-based environment and to stimulate private sector investments,” Reyes said.

At present the Philippines is only maximizing a few renewable energy sources, these are the hydro, and geothermal energy sources.

He said with geothermal alone, the Philippines is the second largest in the world, second to the United States, of which Philippines has the capacity to produce 1,900 mega-watts, and United States with 2,500 mega-watts capacity.

The Philippines has a lot of volcanoes that can be tapped for development of more geothermal plants. These are found in the eastern seaboard, in Bicol for instance, Quezon province, Leyte and Surigao provinces.

The Philippine government also aims to harness the potential of “Ocean Energy” source, to utilize the waves to produce energy. However, this is seen to be realized in the long term period as technology in producing energy through ocean-waves are still in the immature level, even in the United States.

Wind power is also seen to help the Philippines goal in reducing its dependence on imported fossil fuel. Utilizing the wind to produce power has already started in the Philippines, however, this has yet to find its full establishment.

Reyes said in Ilocos Norte, there is an existing plant that produces 28 mega-watt, using 15 windmill units. The plant planned to expand its wind power energy production to 30 megawatt in the next few years.

Reyes said there is a good chance for the Philippines to achieve at least 40 percent of its total requirement of energy, sourcing power produced by renewable sources.

He mentioned that there is a good potential for the wind power energy to flourish in the Philippines, because requires low power consumption and fuel intake.

In a separate interview with Aboitiz Equity Venture (AEV) president Jon Ramon Aboitiz, he said that the company is still not bullish on capitalizing wind power energy sources, as of now, as it is hard to find areas or plant sites that provide constant wind blows.

At present, AEV, the holding company of Aboitiz Power, the largest power generation supplier in the Philippines, is largely utilizing both geothermal and hydro sources.

Reyes also mentioned that potential of developing the solar energy source in the Philippines. This has already started by Lopez Group in a joint venture with a US-based company in the operation of solar energy plant called Sun Power Corporation in Batangas in Luzon.

However, one of the problems seen in the development of solar energy source, although efficient, is the high operational cost. AT this point, this kind solar energy is not yet considered as commercially viable.

Nuclear energy, on the other hand, although it provides cleaner energy, still has to establish acceptance from Filipinos.

Social acceptability and general problems associated with Nuclear Power Plant introduction in the Philippines has slackened the development of this kind of energy source here.

The effects of the financial crisis brought about by volatile prices of fossil fuel in the world market may be lessened by 2010.

That is if the government is able to achieve its goal to reach 40 percent renewable energy (RE) sufficiency two years from now.

“This is a critical component of the government’s strategy to lessen dependence on imported polluted sources of energy,” said Department of Energy secretary Angelo T. Reyes.

Reyes said that the government is willing to take on the challenge of setting up in place policy structures for renewable energy to flourish.

“We [government] will draw policies to facilitate transition to renewable energy as option or to compete with fossil fuel. Government will also create a market-based environment and to stimulate private sector investments,”Reyes said.