Sky high oil prices? About time to use alternative energy sources

In the face of high oil prices, there is now a renewed interest in the use of alternative energy sources. Unlike fossil fuel like gasoline and diesel, these sources are available almost everywhere, are renewable and environment friendly. Among these sources are: Biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar, wind power, fuel cells, ocean energy, tidal energy and wave energy.

Maximally tapped, these sources can relieve the Philippines of much of its reliance on fossil fuel thereby reducing its dollar expenditure on these and strengthening its dollar reserve. A strong peso would result and this would be a big boost to the economy. But the question is, why have we neglected the development of these energy sources? The raw materials are aplenty. Biomass, for example, which consists mainly of wood and forest products, animal wastes and grains residue, abound in an agricultural country like the Philippines. These materials can be used to produce heat for steam machines or they can be processed into power generating liquid or gas such as methane.

Geothermal fields too are many in this country because we are squatting in a "ring of fire" where hundreds of volcanoes exist. But except those in Tawi, Albay, in Palimpinon, Negros Oriental, or in Tongonan, Leyte, there are hardly any other hot wells producing the much-needed electricity. True, we are the second geothermal power producing country in the world, but our reliance on bunker fuel to produce electricity is still heavy and this is eating into our precious dollar reserve.

Windmill technology is an old stuff. Solar energy is, too, but these have not been popularly employed as energy sources despite the fact that supply is inexhaustible. One has only to go near the sea or climb a hill to get a continuous blast of wind in the face. As for the sun, why, we have a surfeit of it throughout the year. In fact, for having too much sunlight we are forced to use more electric fans or airconditioners that voraciously consume electric current. And when did we ever run short of sea waves? We have them almost every day, more so if a typhoon is brewing nearby. But our waves are wasting their strength on wasted shores.

For a hydroelectric plant our major bet is the Maria Christina power complex in Iligan City. There are certainly minor hydro outfits in smaller falls in other places. In Cebu, for instance, there are plenty of small-size falls that can be harnessed to produce electricity. The Mantayopan falls in Barili is one. The Kawasan overflow in Badian is another, and the Mainit water-drops in Malabuyoc is still another. Mini hydro as a source of water-based energy is extensively developed in China and others Asian countries, but no such thing is happening in our country.

Because of our lukewarm efforts in developing alternative energy sources our expenditure on imported sources of power is huge. Add to this our consumption of transport fuel which amounted to 320 million barrels per day (in 2001) and you get an idea of our huge dollar outflow only for this commodity. Needless to say, there ought to be a serious effort to shift from fossil-based fuel to what is called biofuel insofar as our transport system is concerned. Actually, the technology on this is not new, and the raw materials are plentiful also. One of these is coconut oil. Refined, it can be used as an additive to diesel oil. Ethanol (a kind of alcohol) is another. Extracted from sugar cane or starchy grains, this substance can be used in lieu of gasoline or as a mix of it. In fact, Brazil, China, India and the US have been producing this substance commercially and are using it, albeit on a limited scale, in their cars and buses.

We have plenty of coconuts and grains. We are a sugar cane producing country. Why are we not doing much to develop these non-fossil sources of energy? Imagine the millions of dollars we can save from oil importation! Imagine too the stack of dollars we can earn from exporting biofuel! And imagine most of all the greatly enhanced productivity of our farms and the employment opportunities we can give to unemployed countryside folks!