MANILA, Philippines – The government must act to clear hurdles in the development of renewable energy (RE) in the country to make it more competitive with other sources of power, a leading industry expert said.
“Renewable energy is the future but given its present technological investment constraints, clean coal is still the best option for baseload power,” Cebu Energy Development Corp. president Jesus Alcordo said.
Alcordo, who is also a former National Power Corp. (Napocor) president and commissioner of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), made this statement to explain why the company opted to put up a 246 megawatt (MW) clean coal-fired power facility instead of an RE plant.
The CEDC chief said investors have to pour in between $2 million to $5 million per MW to construct an RE facility compared to coal which will require only about $2 million per MW.
In further justifying their move, he said aside from the fact that RE technologies are not yet being fully developed, RE resources are oftentimes intermittent.
He cited that wind power is dependent on the intermittence of wind. The visibility and noise of wind turbines likewise impact on wilderness areas, he added.
“Presently (wind power) needs to be combined with fossil-based technology to properly respond to baseload power requirements of an area.
Alcordo said other challenges could also be found in other forms of RE.
He noted that in solar energy, there is limited storage capacity, thus limiting its ability to supply more power.
Moreso, he cited the disposal and high cost of replacing batteries in using solar power, aside from the high cost of technology and the land area required to generate solar power.
“For example, a power firm’s 1.6 -MW solar project in Caga-yan de Oro will cost close to $5.6 million using 6,500 solar panels on two hectares of land,” he said.
He said it is the same case with hydropower as these are normally site-specific. He also took note of the environmental and social impact of creating water reservoir/dam for hydro projects which also impact on water flow and aquatic life. –Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The Philippine Star)
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
