A study conducted by the Renewable Energy Coalition states that the Philippines has the following renewable energy potential:

1. Geothermal - 4,531 MW
2. Hydro electric - 13,097 MW
3. Wind -76,600 MW
4. Wave - 170,000 MW
5. Biomass - 277 Million Barrels Fuel Oil equivalent (MBFOE)/year
6. Solar Power - 5 ~ 5.1 KwH per square meter per day.

According to the article this gives the Philippine about 204,228 MW of harvestable energy from renewable energy sources. However the figures do not seem to add up. I’m guess it’s a typo somewhere because if you add up all the MW’s and exclude Biomass and Solar you end up with 264,228 MW.

Personally though, I’d rather exclude wave technology in the current listing. Much of the wave technology I’m seeing now is still in it’s infancy. Compared to existing Wind, Biomass and Hydroelectric technology, harnessing the power of waves has still a long way to go before it gets acceptability. Not to mention determining what it’s long term effect will be on the environment.

Well, here’s hoping that the RE bill does finally gets passed and the much needed incentives be given to potential RE developers. The incentives however are only applicable to the first 2,500 MW of power.

The Philippine Renewable Energy Bill’s listed Benefits to approved Renewable Energy(RE) developers are:

1. Income tax holiday for 6 of years
2. Preferential realty tax rate
3. Exemption from import duties
4. Reduced government royalties

There is some opposition to the passing of this bill, one of which being that it will lead to much higher electricity rates shouldered by the customer. According to Kalikasan-People’s Network for the Environment:

Chapter III, Section 6 of the bill stipulates that investors that will go to renewable energy production are guaranteed higher electricity rates than the current power rates for the next ten years. It is also provided that the differential rate will be passed on to end power users or consumers. [source]

Another is that it guarantees higher profits for the RE developers because of the reduction in royalties:

Chapter V Section 11 of the bill states that the ‘The government share on renewable energy (RE) development projects shall be equal to at least one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the gross proceeds for all RE resources except for indigenous geothermal energy, which shall be two percent (2%) of the gross proceeds’. This is 50% lower than the share that the government now is getting from current energy producers.

[source]

Category: Solar, Wind, Hydro, Wave

Related Articles:

• DOE Secretary explains need of Coal plant to avert power crisis
• Wind Power Projects in the Philippines
• 3 Geothermal Exploration Contracts Awarded
• Northwind Expansion to be finished by August 2008
• World Alternative Energy Investment Up 60% in 2007
• NASA Top Scientist: Global Warming Situation needs drastic steps already
• Philippine Renewable Energy Bill Stalled
• 2nd East Asia Summit’s Biofuel Pact
• Consolidated Renewable Energy Bill approved at Congress
• Asian Development Bank’s $1B War Chest for Clean Energy