Low Carbon News in Philippines in September 2014
8 September 2014
Rooftop solar cheaper than coal, says Philippines’ energy minister
The Philippines’ secretary of energy, Carlos Jericho Petilla said 5 September that rooftop solar is cheaper than coal in the island state.
The country relies on importing most of its energy from expensive fossil fuels, subject to price fluctuations. Electricity from a coal plant cost up to PHP5.50 per kWh (US$0.13) plus PHP6.50 (US$0.15) for distribution and transmission, totalling PHP12.00 (US$0.28). Whereas, rooftop solar costs PHP9.00 per kWh (US$0.21) for generation. There are no costs for distribution or transmission, said Petilla.
Source: PV-Tech, http://www.pv-tech.org/news/rooftop_solar_cheaper_than_coal_says_philippines_energy_secretary
9 September 2014
Financing is crucial for renewable energy expansion in the Philippines
Businesses in the Philippines face some of the highest grid-tied energy costs in Asia, yet these same customers frequently experience blackouts and brownouts due to high and growing electricity demand. In other words, not only is electricity expensive for businesses in the Philippines, but it’s also unreliable. Infrastructure and energy inefficiencies are estimated to cost the Philippines $20 billion annually.
These factors, combined with new government incentives, are coming together to create a strong case for renewable energy. Adoption of solar and wind power is already growing quickly, but many more renewable energy projects in the country are expected to get off the ground.
Source: Eco-business, http://www.eco-business.com/opinion/financing-crucial-renewable-energy-expansion-philippines/
Source: http://www.eco-business.com/opinion/financing-crucial-renewable-energy-expansion-philippines/
9 September 2014
Climate change turning hazard into opportunity
Countering climate change must be one of our top priorities in the 21st century. It has become a danger to the ecosystem on our planet and challenges our way of living. It is a contributing factor to increase economic and security risks domestically and globally. The rise in global temperatures poses strong risks for natural systems and human societies. Around the world countries are already facing negative impacts of global warming, changes in rainfall patterns, and increasing number of extreme weather events like cyclones, flooding, and drought.
But only a few countries are as exposed and vulnerable to climate change as the Philippines. The sad track record of natural disasters during recent years with typhoon Yolanda outclassing even the strongest storms in history urges us to move swiftly on a climate-resilient and low carbon pathway.
Source: Philippine Star, http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/09/09/1367040/climate-change-turning-hazard-opportunity
13 September 2014
Cementing pathways to ‘green’ buildings
As the government and the private sector step up rehabilitation in these areas with the battle cry “build back better,” people ask the question: Are we up to the challenges posed by what is now perceived to be “the new normal,” where strong earthquakes and supertyphoons trigger flash floods, landslides and lately, deadly storm surges?
With climate change in mind, a lot of players in the building industry, have started to think about going “green” particularly after Typhoon Ondoy sank Metro Manila and nearby towns in Luzon a few years back.
Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/index.php/en/features/green/38693-cementing-pathways-to-green-buildings
14 September 2014
Business groups to participate in energy reserve program
To help avert a looming power crisis in 2015, business organizations and foreign chambers have volunteered to participate in the government’s energy reserve program.
The country’s largest business and foreign chambers committed over 300 megawatts to the Interruptible Load Program (ILP) – a scheme proposed by the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) where energy users with large loads, such as business establishments and factories, will be required to run their standby generator sets to ease the demand for power from the grid during peak hours.
Source: Rappler, http://www.rappler.com/business/industries/173-power-and-energy/69094-business-foreign-chambers-interruptible-load-program
22 September 2014
ASEAN economic integration should be climate-resilient
Speakers at a press conference on Monday, September 22, were one in saying that, as the economies of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations converge in 2015, they should push for economic development that is powered by green energy instead of fossil fuels and that is resilient to climate change.
“The definition of ASEAN integration is very limited. We integrate economic policies, but we do not integrate other policies that affect society. How do we cooperate with one another so we can come up with policies to stop global warming or protect the environment?” said Riza Bernabe, policy and research coordinator for Oxfam Grow.
Source: Rappler, http://www.rappler.com/world/specials/southeast-asia/asean-journey/69835-asean-integration-low-carbon-climate-resilient
29 September 2014
Dreams of solar energy for the whole Philippines
If the government seems slow to address the looming power crisis next year, can the private sector step in to help?
In this era of unique, technology-driven entrepreneurs like the inspirational Jack Ma of China and South African-born Elon Musk of California, when can we in the Philippines produce our own tech-savvy business people?
On Sept. 20 I witnessed the first venture of 21-year-old entrepreneur Leandro “Lean” Legarda Leviste, with his new firm Solar Philippines installing the country’s biggest 700-kilowatt self-use solar rooftop power plant (using German and Chinese technologies) at the Central Mall in Biñan City, Laguna, which was developed by top restaurateur Rikki Dee.
Source: Philippine Star, http://www.philstar.com/business-life/2014/09/29/1373789/lean-legarda-leviste-dreams-solar-energy-whole-philippines