Renewable energy (RE) will enjoy a banner year in 2015. This was the optimistic outlook made by a panel of experts in the recent forum titled Celebrating Renewable Energy Success in the Philippines and Paving the Way Forward held at a hotel in Makati City.
Markus Dietrich, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Project Development Program for Renewable Energies in Southeast Asia coordinator, said the Philippines has come a long way in the development of RE.
Dietrich said it is highlighted by the activation of the solar-powered roof of the Henry Sy-led SM North mall in the third quarter of 2014.
It is one of the largest installations in the world.
“With the support of German know-how and technology complemented by Filipino ingenuity and entrepreneurship, investing in RE is one of the big opportunities in 2015,” he said.
Mario Marasigan, director of the RE Management Bureau of the Department of Energy (DOE), said the prospects for renewable energy in 2015 are great as many energy companies have trooped to his office to seek contracts for RE projects.
“I was given the most difficult task of working on the 650 contracts filed in my office, plus the approval of 140 applications,” Marasigan said.
“I think collaboration is the key to ensure the projects in RE will succeed,” he added.
The DOE said the private sector would be its lead player in developing RE in the country. “The government is a poor businessman.
Our job is to advertise and the best advertiser is the president,” Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said, referring to President Aquino’s participation in the launching of the solar energy-powered roofs of SM North mall.
In the panel discussion, San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. (Sacasol) Chairman Jose Maria Zabaleta said the installation of a solar-cell farm in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, not only stabilized the energy supply of the town but also provided employment to its residents as a Japanese manufacturing company established operations and hired 1,000 workers.
“I urge government agencies to give a strong focus in developing RE and move forward to ensure its success,” Zaballeta said.
“The government must also support biomass energy, such as baggasse, because this is also a good source of employment for people, by asking them to gather wood,” he added.
He said RE would be a great catalyst in developing the countryside. With the establishment of Sacasol, Zabaleta said engineers and technicians who have left San Carlos City to look for green pastures outside the city, have returned because there are more economic opportunities in the city now.
Ditmar Gorges, CEO of German company Entech, said the Philippines still has to realize the benefits of using bioenergy as an alternative energy source.
Gorges said only 11 megawatts of bioenergy projects have been completed in the country. He said another 50 MW of projects are in the pipeline.
“The Philippines is still undersubscribed in bioenergy. But it has a lot of sources of bioenergy, such as industrial waste, pig manure, poultry manure, fruit waste, vegetable waste, napier gas, sorghum, corn and other plants,” he said.
Nevertheless, Gorges remain optimistic on the prospects of biogas because it is perfect for the archipelagic character of the country.
“The challenge is to educate the Filipinos on the importance of biogas,” he said.
Marasigan said the DOE is implementing capacity-building measures and training livestock farmers using liquid biogas in selected provinces.
Ernesto Pangtangco, executive vice president of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC), said wind farms could contribute in the energy mix to address the power shortage in 2015.
EDC recently commissioned the 150-MW Burgos Wind Project that “is now physically connected to the grid” and is “delivering power to the transmission.”
To boost the country’s energy reserves in the future, Marasigan said the government is opening to 20 hydro and four geothermal projects for competitive bidding.
Among them is the rehabilitation of the Agus 3 and Pulangi hydro power plants in Mindanao.
Hendrik Meller, chief advisor for RE of GIZ Philippines, said the business models need to change to maintain the gains it has achieved in 2014. He added that the Philippine government must make financing available to help ensure business and individuals can build and expand its RE projects.
He said technology is not a problem as it can be easily be accessed through GIZ Philippines.
“An investor-friendly climate and good energy management program will ensure the viability of RE development,” he said.
