Back-to-back Good News for Renewable Energy Industry

Solar energy is not a fashionable technology. Our country needs solar power because it provides solutions,’’
Tetchi Cruz-Capellan - President and Spokesperson of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance

                               http://www.flickr.com/photos/clownfish/278588185/

Its a good development - back-to-back that is, for the renewable energy industries here in the Philippines.


First is the completion of the Department of Energy's national roadmap for the renewable energy industry, providing a more stable direction toward the development and more efficient use of this sources.

“The National Renewable Energy Plan (NREP) outlines the policy framework that is in the law which will provide the strategic building blocks that would allow the Philippine renewable energy industry to fly," said Energy Undersecretary Josefina Asirit.

On the sidelines of a House energy committee hearing on Tuesday, Asirit explained that the NREP would provide a “continuing and well-coordinated effort to drive development in the RE industry, to promote technological advancements, and achieve economies of scale.”

Specifically, the NREP will contain targets for the renewable energy industry, the vision, mission and all other mechanisms and incentives as provided for under the Renewable Energy Law of 2008. Also included in the plan are timetables for these incentives and mechanisms, such as the RE market and RE registrar, feed-in-tariffs, renewable portfolio standards, green energy option program and net metering, among others.

In a nutshell, the NREP will allow the government to fulfill its targets, particularly when it comes to national energy security.

Second good thing is the first solar/photovoltaic summit in Pasay City from June 1-3, 2011.

The program will feature local and foreign speakers which will share expertise on the manufacture and power generation of solar energy.

“The 2011 Philippine Solar/PV Summit will be the first to bring together government businesses, funding institutions, research agencies, and most of all, manufacturers, suppliers, and power generation companies, engaged in water slicing, cell fab, panel manufacturing, systems integration and renewable energy solutions,’’ said, Tetchi Cruz-Capellan which is the President and Spokesperson of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance, who also served as senior official in the Department of Agriculture as its youngest and female Assistant Secretary under the Cory administration (1990-1992) and the only female Undersecretary during the Arroyo administration (2003 to 2005).

Organized by the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines Inc. (SEIPI) and the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA), the summit will be participated in by solar and supplier companies from Asia, Europe, and North America.

With this developments pouring in from government and private sector it is safe to say that we are on the right way to a bright renewable energy future.


News courtesy of Manila Bulletin and Philippine Daily Inquirer

All You Need to Know About Feed-In Tariff Charges

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National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) adjust upwards the proposed feed-in-tariff (FIT) charges for renewable energy (RE) technologies. 

Feed-in-tariff is an incentive program under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 that aims to accelerate the establishment of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar, large hydro, biomass and ocean power in the country. 

FIT, as defined in the proposed rules, refers to a renewable energy policy that offers guaranteed payments per kilowatt-hour to renewable energy developers for the electricity they produce.

The tariff system will also require the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (N.G.C.P.), who operates and maintains the Philippine transmission network via the National Transmission Corporation, and other distribution utilities to incorporate renewable energy into their power networks. 

The tariffs will be applicable for 20 years, which will start once the renewable energy projects start commercial operations.

Here's the changes.

Of all the RE technologies, it was biomass which gained the highest adjustment on its proposed FIT at P7.00 per kWh, higher by P0.45 per kWh from the previous estimate of P6.55 per kWh. Nevertheless, that is still lower than the P8.50 per kWh being batted for by the Biomass Alliance.

The FIT charge for run-of-river hydro has also been scaled up by P0.22 per kWh to P6.15 per kWh from P5.93 per kWh previously. Solar’s feed-in-tariff similarly went up by P0.39 per kWh to P17.95 from P17.56 per kWh; wind has also been higher by P0.32 per kWh to P10.37 from P10.05 per kWh; while ocean had gone up to P17.65 from P17.38 per kWh.

Make Your Life Easier With Electric Tricycles

                                e-electric tricycle roaming Metro Manila


Quezon City government recently announces that it will be using the new electric tricycles on the streets of the city. This e-tricycles were developed by the Kasangga Party-list and Netherlands-based Technostrat Design and Research Corporation.

After the introduction of electric jeepneys widely known as e-jeepneys, the government fan-out the concept to smaller mode of public utility vehicle which in this case, were the tricycles.

The biggest question now with this development is whether this will click on tricycle drivers or not. The price per unit is P117,000, can travel from 100 to 130 kilometers and can accommodate four persons but needs to be fully charge 8 hours straight.

 If this project will push thru, it will be in no doubt, lessen the volume of smoke that was rapidly destroy the air quality of Metro Manila and the surrounding suburbs.

Let’s hope that this project will grow and be accepted not only in Metro Manila but also on the whole Philippine archipelago.