DOE seeks funding for R&D in new technology

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking assistance in the development of ocean technology for power generation, particularly funding for research and development (R&D).

“The first world countries are not putting enough R&D money for ocean technology,” Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras told reporters, noting that developed countries are reluctant to push for ocean technology as these nations have limited resources from the oceans. “The poor and developing countries, including the small islands and archipelagoes, are the ones pushing for it.”

Almendras said the recommendation was expressed in a recent energy conference in Vienna, which got the support of smaller nations.

“There has to be more impetus and we need help as don’t have the money,” he added.

The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) has been approached to put ocean technology R&D in its program and volunteered the Philippines as a possible site.

Almendras said developed countries have a crucial role in pursuing a “green” economy.

“We call on developed countries to provide the necessary funding and technologies for green industries especially for those which we can not develop on our own,” Almendras said.

Recently, the DOE launched the National Renewable Energy Program, which will serve as a roadmap for the country’s renewable energy plans and development.

The department wants to triple the existing renewable energy generation capacity, which stands at around 5,400 megawatts as of 2010.

There has been strong foreign and local investor interest in renewable energy projects but developers are still waiting for the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme to be approved before proceeding with their respective projects.

Since the passage of the Renewable Energy Law, foreign investors have expressed strong interest in the country’s emerging renewable energy industry. The energy department, in fact, has numerous pending applications for renewable energy development.