Use of solar energy urged for households

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) and the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature Philippines are working together to promote solar energy to Filipino households and businesses.

The PSPA and WWF-Philippines yesterday organized the Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 to promote the use of solar technology in the Philippines.

Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, WWF-Philippines vice chairman and chief executive officer said the Philippines does not have to rely on coal and oil which have a negative impact on the environment.

“You don’t have to remain captive to oil and coal prices,” Tan said.

Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 brought together solar energy developers to give prospective customers a chance to learn whether their homes are suited for solar energy.

Yesterday’s event, held at The Fort, is the pilot of an annual series of solar energy-related events.

Advocates of solar energy in the Philippines and German agencies, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Bundesnetzagentur (BSW) extended their support in the event.

The PSPA said the event took after Germany’s Woche der Sonne (Week of the Sun), an annual event in Germany that was later adopted in different parts of Europe.

Solar energy developers that participated in yesterday’s event included Renewables Made in Germany, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), Tritec, Transnational Uyeno Solar Corp., GNB Exide, Maschinen and Technik Inc (MATEC) and Cagayan Electric Power (Cepalco).

The government has been utilizing solar energy since the 1980s for joint rural electrification projects with local and international agencies.

The PSPA said solar energy was the preferred solution to the lack of energy services in the remote and off-grid areas because it was relatively inexpensive and easy to deploy.

The PSPA urged homeowners and small businesses to invest in solar technology as this is easy to maintain and “will operate for a long period of time.”