US-based ocean power development firm eyes RP

MANILA, Philippines - An ocean power development company based in the United States is planning to invest in the Philippines, a Department of Energy (DOE) source said.

The DOE source said Deep Ocean Power Philippines, a unit of California-based Deep Ocean Power, is currently conducting studies on at least 36 sites for possible ocean power sources.

These sites are located in Laoag, Zambales, Mindoro, Isabela, Panay, Negros and parts of Mindanao. 

“They applied for 36 sites covering 21,450 hectares, however the areas are still subject to verification under the prescribed blocking system of the DOE,” the source said.

At present, Deep Ocean is engaged in the business of using ocean thermal energy conversion which makes use of the temperature differential between the warm surface waters of the oceans, heated by solar radiation, and the deeper cold waters to generate electricity.

Based on the proposed business plan, Deep Ocean will construct a land-based power plant but its pumping station will be located in the deep ocean.

Ocean power is one of the energy sources being promoted by the DOE as part of renewable energy development.

With the passage of the Renewable Energy Act last year, the DOE is optimistic that more investments will come in including those for ocean power development.

The DOE has conducted several studies in the past which identified at least 16 potential ocean power sites.

These areas are: Camarines, Northeastern Samar, Surigao, Bataan Island, Catanduanes, Tacloban, San Bernardino Strait, Babuyan Island, Ilocos Norte, Siargao Island and Davao Oriental.

There is an existing study on tidal current systems in the Hinatuan Passage in Surigao and San Bernardino Strait between Leyte and Samar for possible power development.

Ocean energy resource is abundant in the Philippines with potential capacity seen to reach up to 170,000 megawatts.  This exceeds the 4,350 MW additional power requirement of the country in the next six years.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization launched several years ago a project aimed at promoting and disseminating in the Asian region the use and application of marine current technology. The UNIDO project involved the Philippines , China and Indonesia.

A few years back, a feasibility study was supposed to be conducted jointly by the ASEAN Center for Energy and the governments of these three countries.

Ponte di Archimede, an Italian company, provided the technology called Kobold Turbine, made for the purpose of exploiting marine currents and can produce more than 70 kilowatts of power.

The proponents of the study were optimistic to put up 10 units that could provide electricity to far flung areas in these three countries. The technology test will run up to two to three years or until 2008.