Balitbit, Lhea Mae M
3 SEDE- B
ENV101 ASSIGNMENT
Search for some renewable energy in the Philippines.
[Link] Energy
Hydroelectric Energy has fundamentally altered the electricity landscape in the Philippines,
especially in areas with existing river systems for power supply. In Benguet, the Ambuklao
and Binga Hydroelectric Plants have been providing power for several decades. With
respect to electrifying the Philippine grid, the Pantabangan-Masiway Hydroelectric Complex
in Nueva Ecija has made for a successful addition to the electrification of Luzon. Down
south, the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Complex in the provinces of Lanao del Norte and
Bukidnon is an important source of energy for Mindanao which lost a considerable amount of
capacity during the 2020's and is still in need of rehabilitation. While over 15% of the
country's electricity comes from hydropower today, experts say there is an excess of 13,000
MW of energy to be gained from additional hydropower projects and expansion.
[Link] Energy
The Bangui Wind Farm was the first wind farm built in Southeast Asia, and since then wind
farms have also been built in Burgos and Pagudpud. Outside of Luzon, Guimaras is also
beginning to harness wind energy, and there are plans for offshore wind farms in Mindoro
and Batangas where the strong sea winds can be well utilized. Currently, wind power is
approximately 443 MW, but with future projects in Rizal and Quezon, the government hopes
to significantly increase this number.
[Link] Energy
In Albay, the Tiwi Geothermal Plant began producing power in the 1970s, while the MakBan
(Makiling-Banahaw) Geothermal Complex, which straddles Laguna and Batangas, supplies
electricity to a large part of Luzon. The Tongonan Geothermal Plant in Leyte and the
Palinpinon Geothermal Facility in Negros Occidental also play important parts in keeping the
Visayas powered. Even though geothermal energy is a reliable all weather power generation
option, growth has been slow given the upfront expense of the construction and worries
expressed by Indigenous people residing near potential sites; however, several new projects
will be able to eventually add 48 MW to the grid.
4. Solar Energy
The San Carlos Solar Energy Plant in Negros Occidental and Tarlac Solar Power Project are
generating energy from clean electricity. Meanwhile, rooftop solar systems are becoming
more prevalent in Metro Manila and other urban areas. Pampanga hosts the Luzon Solar
Power Project, and Ilocos Norte is adding to its solar capacity with the MEX-Ilocos Norte
Solar Power Plant. An ambitious project, the floating solar farm on Laguna de Bay is touted
to be one of the largest in Asia, but its impact on local fishing communities has generated
controversy.
Impact in the economy and environment of our country
Investing in renewable energy is not only an opportunity to save the planet, but it also makes
economic sense. For instance, just in terms of geothermal energy, the country has saved
over $7 billion during the last forty years since the 1970s. That does not even include the
savings for wind, solar, and hydro—all of which are leading to lower costs and less reliance
on expensive fuel imports. Energy projects are also viable employment opportunities for
workers—construction of a 10 MW solar farm, for instance, will provide work for 1000 people
and keep approximately 100 of those people employed afterwards.
In terms of the environment, we know that the transition to clean energy sources has helped
reduce carbon emissions. Transitioning to clean energy is not without its challenges; the
plans for the solar farm at Laguna de Bay presented some community displacement issues,
and Mindanao native peoples have protested expansion of geothermal energy on their
ancestral lands. These are real issues that need attention; clean energy should not be at the
expense of people's livelihoods.
The Philippines has every opportunity to become a renewable energy leader but the
question is how to direct this renewable energy transition to ensure that the benefits are
extended beyond the mega-corporate level all the way down to local communities so that we
can create an equitable and sustainable energy future.
