AboitizPower reiterates need for more flexible policies for renewable energy

MANILA, Philippines - AboitizPower Corp. has reiterated the need for more flexible policies that would help reduce the barriers that hinder the development of small as well as large-scale renewable energy plants.

“Requiring the same studies, permits and fees from a one-megawatt (MW) renewable energy plant as a 50-MW will discourage the development of small-scale plants in favor of larger-scale plants, even if the potential capacity in the country for small plants exceeds that of the larger plants,” AboitizPower senior vice president Luis Miguel Aboitiz pointed out during his speech at the recent Renewable Energy Conference and Expo Manila 2010.

Aboitiz made the call as he shared insights on the policies that face companies in starting out greenfield projects in renewable energy.

AboitizPower, which currently represents one of the largest private renewable energy producers in the country, sponsored the event as part of its commitment to encourage both businesses and individuals to support energy solutions that will leave a lighter impact on the earth’s resources and promote the usage of cleaner and renewable energy.

The event had President Aquino as keynote speaker and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras as lead speaker on the topic “Renewable Energy: Beyond the Roadmap.”

Aquino likewise led the inauguration of AboitizPower’s biggest greenfield project in renewable energy this year – the Sibulan hydropower plant in Davao del Sur which added 42.5 MW of cleaner and renewable energy to the Mindanao grid. One MW of energy can provide power to about 1,000 households.

As early as 2001, the company launched Cleanergy, its brand of cleaner and renewable energy that leaves a lighter impact on the earth’s resources.

Cleanergy is harnessed from AboitizPower’s renewable energy portfolio that includes geothermal and hydroelectric power plants located across the country.

They include hydroelectric power generation assets that can be found in the provinces of Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Benguet, and Davao del Sur.

AboitizPower’s geothermal energy assets include the Tiwi plant in Albay and the Makban facility located at the Laguna-Batangas border.  

Through Cleanergy, AboitizPower seeks to encourage people to power their activities with cleaner and renewable energy and grant recognition to companies that have made the responsible choice.

AboitizPower is the holding company for the Aboitiz Group’s investments in power generation, distribution, retail and power services.  

It is a major producer of renewable energy in the country with several hydroelectric and geothermal assets in its generation portfolio.

The non-renewable portfolio consists of plants throughout the country.

The distribution utilities it owns and operates are located across the country (www.aboitizpower.com).