UPLB hosts forum on renewable energy

MANILA, Philippines - The College of Economics and Management (CEM) of the University of the Philippines Los Banos and the UPLB-CEM Alumni Foundation are offering a series of lectures on renewable energy (RE).

The first lecture will be held on Dec. 7 at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City. Prominent technical consultants and senior executives from the Philippines and abroad will share their knowledge and experiences on this subject.

The series will be helpful to bankers and professionals who want to understand more deeply the intricacies of the technology and economics of RE as they apply to the Philippine energy market. While RE is a clear option if we are to address climate change, its forms and applications are not fully understood beyond the realm of engineers and the scientific community.

The speakers will be led by Ricardo G. Barcelona who will talk on energy scenarios for possible futures, the pathways to low carbon energy futures; and what business and government can do to help make this happen. Antoine de Wilde, a former World Bank task team leader, will discuss various approaches and the successful implementation of solar programs in Papua New Guinea, hydropower projects in Fiji, green energy initiatives in Shanghai, and other similar projects.

Lance Hardesty of R.W. Beck will focus on the science and the technology of these various RE sources and their appropriateness to the conditions “on the ground.” The following, among others, will be reviewed: a) solar; b) wind; c) geothermal, d) hydropower, e) landfill methane recovery, f) waste-to-energy technologies; g) biomass gasification, and h) biodiesel and ethanol technologies.

Finally, Dean Cabanilla of UPLB CEM will discuss his research findings on biofuels.

Sen. Miguel Zubiri, principal author of the Renewable Energy Law, will also talk on the topic. Chancellor Rey Velasco will deliver the inspirational talk.