Low Carbon News in Philippines in February 2015
3 February 2015
Electric vehicles gain foothold as campus shuttles
PHILIPPINE universities are playing their part reducing greenhouse emissions by adopting electric jeepneys (e-jeepneys) as campus shuttle vehicles, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) said.
The universities that have deployed electric-powered shuttles are the De La Salle University Dasmariñas campus and Ateneo de Manila University.
Source: BusinessWorld, http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=electric-vehicles-gain-foothold-as-campus-shuttles&id=102055
2 February 2015
Renewable energy plan picks up pace
The government is keeping up its push for renewable energy (RE) projects to diversify energy sourcing and boost power supply in the country.
In an update on its RE campaign, the Department of Energy (DOE) said it has so far awarded 638 renewable energy projects as of end-2014 with a total potential capacity of 10,041 megawatts (MW), of which 2,584 MW were up and running.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://business.inquirer.net/185955/renewable-energy-plan-picks-up-pace
15 February 2015
Power spot market ready to integrate renewable energy
The Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC), the operator of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM), said it is now ready to integrate renewable energy (RE) resources, a move that may lead to lower power rates.
“PEMC has been relentless in realizing its mandates under the RE Act and we have expressly lent out our support through various stakeholder events,” said PEMC president Melinda Ocampo.
The Renewable Energy Law of 2008 provides that all intermittent resources and feed-in-tariff qualified resources are entitled to “must dispatch” and “priority dispatch,” respectively, subject to the issuance of qualification and registration guidelines.
Source: Philippine Star, http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/02/15/1423757/power-spot-market-ready-integrate-renewable-energy#ixzz3TOctz9DG
18 February 2015
PH wind resources updated
The Climate Change Commission, United States Agency for International Development-Philippines and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory on Wednesday updated the 2014 wind resource atlas for assessment and geospatial analysis for the Philippines to guide investors.
The new wind atlas expanded and updated the old wind resource atlas published in 2001.
The document included up to date resource modeling techniques as well as the turbine technologies over the past decade.
Source: Manila Standard, http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/02/18/ph-wind-resources-updated/
19 February 2015
DOE wants wind technology included in energy infra plan
Seeking more investments in renewable energy (R.E.), the Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing wind technology, among others, for energy infrastructure development.
The DOE is presently looking into the impact of additional wind capacity under the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) incentive scheme, under which developers are guaranteed certain rates depending on the technology they use.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer, http://business.inquirer.net/187016/doe-wants-wind-technology-included-in-energy-infra-plan#ixzz3TOm4WnCg
23 February 2015
Legarda Urges Gov’t to Shift to Low-Carbon Economy
Senator Loren Legarda today urged the government to consider a long-term transition to a low-carbon economy, noting that investments in clean energy and low-carbon infrastructure will determine the future of our nation and the future generations.
Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, stressed that the idea of a low-carbon economy may seem ideal at first but if we look at the worsening effects of conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels to our health and environment, it should not be hard to understand the need to adopt the said concept.
Source: Senate, https://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2015/0223_legarda1.asp
25 February 2015
Renewable energy deals up for grabs
The Philippine government has launched the second round of open and competitive selection process (OCSP 2) for renewable energy deals, reducing the number of hydropower sites up for development due to “local issues” that have yet to be resolved.
Materials distributed during the OCSP 2 launch showed the Energy department is offering four geothermal sites and 17 hydropower sites — compared to 20 initially — with aggregate potential capacity of more than 867 megawatts (MW).
The 21 areas are less than the 24 sites the department previously announced after taking into account results of studies, location and existing infrastructure to transmit power, Mario C. Marasigan, director of the department’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau, told reporters at the sidelines of yesterday’s launch.
Source: Eco-Business, http://www.eco-business.com/news/renewable-energy-deals-grabs/
26 February 2015
Renewable energy facility in Calabarzon
On January 29, 2015, an alternative source that does not rely on fossil fuels was established in Infanta, Quezon, to help supply the energy demand in rice and rice-based communities.
Located in Brgy. Binonoan, the bioethanol distillation facility produces energy without negative impact on environment as nipa sap is processed into biofuel for spark-ignition engines that farmers commonly use.
Nipa is an indigenous product of Infanta.
“This facility built basically produces hydrous bioethanol (95% alcohol) fuel to be used for small farm machines,” Engr. Alexis T. Belonio, lead inventor of the technology, said.
Source: Official Gazette, http://www.gov.ph/2015/02/26/renewable-energy-facility-in-calabarzon/
26 February 2015
France and Philippines call for “ambitious” climate deal
France and the Philippines have launched a joint call for a “universal, equitable and ambitious climate deal” this year in Paris.
All countries, from the poorest to the wealthiest, will come together in Paris in December under the UN to sign a global binding climate agreement.
As president of the proceedings, France is now leading the diplomatic push to make sure the meeting is a success.
During a two day trip to the Philippines, President Francois Hollande met with Filipino president Benigno Aquino to release the Manila Call to Action on Climate Change.
Source: http://lowcarbonfacts.eu/france-and-philippines-call-for-ambitious-climate-deal/
28 February 2015
France’s Urbasolar to invest P9B in PH in 2015
Leading French solar company Urbasolar will be pouring in P9 billion of capital to build at least 100 megawatts (MW) of solar facilities in the Philippines this year.
The French company has partnered with local firm SunAsia Energy to build an initial 30-MW solar plant in Victoria City, Negros Occidental.
According to Urbasolar, the capital came from a consortium of European “green” funders committed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change.
Source: Manila Times, http://www.manilatimes.net/frances-urbasolar-to-invest-p9b-in-ph-in-2015/166079/