President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said the country would nearly triple it’s renewable energy-based capacity to 15,300 megawatts in 2030 from 5,400 last year.
Renewable energy would fuel the future of the Philippines, he said as he launched the government’s National Renewable Energy Program, a 20-year “green energy road map” aimed at addressing the spiraling costs in the energy sector.
“We are doing everything possible to pursue the twin goals of harnessing our renewable energy potential while ensuring that our people’s energy needs are met,” Mr. Aquino said.
“With this in mind, the plan is to nearly triple our renewable energy-based capacity from around 5,400 megawatts in 2010 to 15,300 megawatts in 2030.”
Mr. Aquino acknowledged that the journey toward the goal of using mainly green energy would be a “long and grueling” one, and mainly because some forms of renewable energy remained expensive.
Some sectors had already raised concerns that increased renewable energy generation would also lead to a rise in the price of electricity, he said.
“But the Department of Energy is confident that, along with the Energy Regulation Commission and the National Renewable Energy Board, the government will be able to keep a watchful eye on these prices to keep an optimum balance between the interests of our consumers and preserving the environment for future generations,” Mr. Aquino said.
The Energy Department is said to be ready to sign eight renewable energy contracts for wind and solar energy, and those include the Kirahon solar power project in Misamis Oriental, the Pasuquin-Burgos solar power project in llocos Norte, and wind power projects in Ilocos Norte and Zambales.
