Gov’t urged to fast track renewable energy dev’t

MANILA, Philippines - Renewable energy advocates are urging the government to fast track the development of renewable energy as a means to mitigate climate change.

The Renewable Energy Developers Caucus (REDC) said the presence of distributed renewable energy would help ensure power supply in the affected areas.

To date, Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded wind projects with a total capacity of 1,753.5 megawatts, solar projects amounting to 482.7 MW, a five-MW ocean power project, 2,806 MW of hydro power projects and 111.6 MW of biomass projects.

However, based on records from the Energy department, there are only 389.5 MW of wind projects with certificate of commerciality issued by the agency, 80 MW for solar, none for ocean power, 210.35 MW for hydro and 46.3 MW for biomass power projects.

“DOE should be more serious in developing renewable energy if it wants to help mitigate climate change and promote energy security. It should also look into why there are only few projects that has proceeded to commerciality,” REDC Convenor for Solar Tetchie Capellan said.

Renewed calls came after Super Typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines on Nov. 8, killing at least 6,000 people.

“While we cannot discount Yolanda’s strength is unprecedented at over 300 kph, having distributed renewable energy would have helped ensure that some areas may still have power despite the recent calamities,” REDC Convenor for Hydro and PASSHYDRO president Jose Silvestre Natividad said.

He said that distributed renewable energy systems generate clean, renewable energy on the site where that energy will be used.

The group said that five years after the Renewable Energy Law was passed in 2008, much remains to be done.

“We recognize that government has also prioritized renewable energy development by passing the Renewable Energy Law in 2008. Five years after the law was passed, we note the efforts done by the DOE, however, much remains to be done,” Capellan said.

Although the Energy department has awarded numerous renewable energy projects to developers, these projects have not progressed to actual construction to date.

Natividad said RE projects are effective climate change mitigation measures.

With more RE projects, Capellan said the Philippines will no longer depend on imported fossil fuel based power plants which is subject to volatile international supply and pricing.

“Government must be more serious and proactive in pushing for the actual construction of the projects. They should assist the developers in eventually realizing these projects,” Capellan said.