DOE lights up $45-M energy efficiency project

MANILA, Philippines - Communities in off-grid or far-flung areas are expected to become more energy efficient in their lighting and power generation systems as part of a $45-million lighting project.

The Department of Energy (DOE) said it has partnered with the private sector, local government units and power distributors for the Philippine Energy Efficiency Project (PEEP) in off-grid communities.

Under the National Residential Lighting subcomponent of the PEEP, solar-powered light emitting diodes were installed in off-grid areas nationwide.

“The program aims to demonstrate efficient lighting system and technologies to reduce peak electricity demand thus, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,” DOE said.

“We will be able to save 10,704 liters a year of kerosene and an emission reduction of 15,502 kilograms of carbon dioxide,” said PEEP project director and DOE Undersecretary Loreta G. Ayson.

To date, 223 households in off-grid areas in Aklan, Antique, Palawan, Davao del Norte have already benefited from the project.

The DOE tapped TeaM Energy Foundation Inc., the local governments of Aklan, Antique, Palawan, and Davao Del Norte, and distributors Palawan Electric Cooperative Inc., Aklan Electric Cooperative Inc. and Davao Del Norte Electric Cooperative Inc. for the project.

“Through this project, identified beneficiaries will be able to utilize safer and more environment-friendly alternatives in lighting their homes,” DOE said.

Ayson said the project can also help reduce fire-related accidents because highly-combustible kerosene will no longer be used in homes.

The PEEP is an initiative of the Asian Development Bank, which granted the country a loan of $31.1 million. The government provided $13.9 million as counterpart financing. 

In general, the PEEP targets to reduce the cost of energy production through the use of energy-efficient appliances, adoption of energy-saving measures in buildings and improvement of equipment testing facilities.

Early this year, the DOE signed an agreement with 56 agencies from the National Capital Region, Southern Tagalog and Bicol for a retrofitting of lighting systems in government buildings.

As of February, the DOE has helped in the retrofitting of 35 government buildings with the aim of reducing energy consumption by 1.37 gigawatt-hours worth P13.7 million annually.