Renewable energy can fully energize RP - Reyes

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines could be fully energized with the use of renewable energy, Energy Secretary Angelo T. Reyes said.

At present, 97.85 percent of the country has access to electricity, through the main grid and from independent sources or off-grid.

The national grid distributes electricity through the National Power Corp. (Napocor) which, in turn, carries sources energy from private and government power plants. Off-grid areas use energy sources that cannot access the national grid but can tap other power sources.

Reyes said that one of the tools to hasten the full electrification of the country is Republic Act (RA) 9513 or the Renewable Energy (RE) Law.

“This law is a high watermark in our objective to energize the remaining un-energized barangays through the use of renewable energy,” he said in a speech during the 40th anniversary celebration of the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

He added that the renewable energy law would provide the means to energize off-grid areas, as well as inject necessary investments.

The renewable energy potential of the Philippines has been estimated at 200,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity.

Geothermal energy has a reserve estimate of 4,406.56 MW, while wind resources potential is placed at over 10,000 square kilometers with 76,600 MW of potential installed capacity.

Hydro applications have a potential capacity of 147 MW in Visayas, while mini-hydro plants have a potential combined capacity of 1,784 MW from 888 sites.

Meanwhile, solar power nationwide will provide an annual potential average of 5.0-5.1 kwh/m2/day, while ocean energy potential is estimated at 170,000 MW.

Reyes said that energy generated from rice hull has total potential of 277 MW. While bagasse accounts for a total potential of 236 MW. Bagasse is biomass remaining after sugarcane or sorghum stalks are crushed to extract their juice.

The challenge in attaining a 100-percent energized nation is to tap and utilized renewable energy while bringing in new investments in the energy field, Reyes said.

He added other challenges include the commercial viability of reaching off-grid areas or conflict-ridden areas, and the operational viability of extending distribution utilities’ lines.

“Then, there are concerns regarding the release of funds, and the capacity development necessary to ensure that electric cooperatives implement their projects in a timely manner,” Reyes added.

Nonetheless, there have been gains with the cooperation of government and private sector participation.

Various government and non-government initiatives have stepped up and resulted in the electrification of off-grid areas through the use of renewable energy.

One of these projects, Project Orange, aims to light one million households by harnessing renewable energy. TeaM Energy’s Beacon Foundation, on the other hand, has also helped by funding the electrification of 300,000 households in both grid and off-grid areas.