Negros Occidental has the potential to become the renewable energy center of the Visayas if its nine sugar mills are retrofitted to produce electricity from biomass, Arthur Aguilar, president of Global Business Power Corp., said.
He said the potential is up to 200 megawatts of exportable clean energy.
Negros is connected to the Panay and Cebu grids, both energy-deficient areas.
Aguilar cited the potential for biogas as other power sources are facing difficulties.
The Northern Negros geothermal power plant in Bago City, for example, has been downsized from 40 MW to 5-10 MW because of inadequate steam deposits.
Negros Occidental is projected to have a power deficit of 93 MW by 2015.
Aguilar said sugar mills have been engaged in biomass co-generation for almost 100 years now. Their output, however, is mainly for their own use.
If sugar mills are fitted with high-pressure boilers, they could double their power output using the same amount of bagasse, the residue from milling sugar cane, Aguilar said.
Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said the hurdle to retrofitting the mills for power generation is the huge investments required.
Aguilar was here to provide a briefing on the power situation during the 20th Visayas Areas Business Conference and Expo.
He said if mini hydropower and wind power units are added to biomass in the renewable energy portfolio, Negros has the potential to produce 310 MW.
