MANY Filipinos, especially those LIVING IN FAR-FLUNG AREAS, STILL lack access to electricity, leaving them in the shadows. The scarcity and instability of power in remote and offgrid locations remain as barriers to the DEVELOPMENT OF NUMEROUS UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND THEIR LIVELIHOODS.

In light of this, the Department of Energy (DoE) marks its 31st anniversary and National Energy Consciousness Month 2023 with a focus on fueling hope and lighting the way toward transitioning to a more sustainable and resilient energy system.

One of the viable solutions to address the electricity shortage is the adoption of renewable energy (RE). RE is a sustainable energy that never depletes as it is continually replenished by nature. Beyond its sustainability and cost efficiency, RE also helps combat climate change.

This type of energy comes from various sources, including but not limited to biomass, geothermal, solar, hydro, ocean and wind. Biomass energy is produced from agricultural waste. Geothermal energy originates from the heat beneath the ground. Solar energy comes from the sun while hydropower is derived from moving water. Ocean energy, as the name implies, refers to power generated by rivers and oceans whereas wind energy comes from strong currents of air.

National Renewable Energy Program

In response to the challenges posed by climate change and energy insecurity, the DoE has mapped out the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) 2020 to 2040. It aims to develop and maximize the use of renewable energy resources.

The NREP 2020 to 2040 contains a set of strategies and procedures pursuant to the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 or RE Act 9513. It lays down the groundwork to elevate the share of renewable energy in the country’s power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

The NREP aims to reduce reliance on traditional sources of electricity such as coal and fossil fuels, which are two major contributors to global warming.

By intensifying the efforts to expand RE electrification, the Philippines can save 32.83 million barrels of crude oil, equivalent to savings of $2.203 billion annually. In addition to significantly mitigating carbon emissions, RE has also become instrumental in providing thousands of jobs to locals.

To facilitate the expansion of the RE industry, the current administration has introduced measures to ease restrictions for foreign investors. Under DoE’s Department Circular 202211-0034, the government permits full foreign ownership on renewable energy projects, including the exploration, development and utilization of solar, wind, hydro and ocean energy resources.

So far, RE has attracted more than P217 billion worth of investments for local RE projects since 2010.

Dreams Project

The DoE’s Renewable Energy Management Bureau has launched the Development for Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (Dreams) Project as part of its efforts to garner more support for RE.

The Dreams Project is a 5-year initiative with the primary goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The bureau achieves this by promoting the commercialization of RE; thereby, fostering increased investments in local RE power generation projects.

In collaboration with the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme, the Dreams Project actively supports the DoE in enforcing policies that drive local RE investments. The program also partners with stakeholders in the construction of more RE facilities across the country.

In addition to that, the Dreams Project empowers local government units (LGUs), power associations, electric cooperatives and other organizations by providing technical assistance and training sessions that educate and promote RE as well as implement and manage RE facilities, developments and projects.

With the support of LGUs, electric cooperatives, private sector, multilateral agencies and other energy-related national agencies, the DoE continues to raise awareness and encourage the widespread adoption of renewable resources through its programs and road maps.

Renewable energy continues to gain ground

RE stands as one of the five crucial factors contributing to the nation’s objectives in realizing a clean energy future. To enhance these RE initiatives, equal attention must be given to other factors such as energy efficiency and conservation (EEC). Under EEC, the goal is to achieve a 10-percent reduction reduction in energy consumption for oil products and electricity from 2040 to 2050.