Dept of Energy (DOE) Secretary, Angelo Reyes, said that although current clean coal technology is not perfect because it doesn’t really remove CO2 from the burnt coal they have to consider this power source necessary in order to prevent the looming energy crisis that the Philippines is about to face in 2009, most especially in the Visayas region. Depending on the size and location of the plant, it can take anywhere from 2-4 years to commission a coal fire power plant.
Clean coal technology reduces the sulfur and nitrous oxide released into the air which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Current Coal Plants in the Pipeline are:
- 100-MW Semirara coal-fired project in Concepcion, Iloilo
- 200 MW of Kamanga power plant of Conal Holdings Corp. in Sarangani Mindanao
- 200-MW Naga power plant of Korea Electric Co. (Kepco) and Salcon Power Corp.
Despite that, he said that the Philippine DOE is still very supportive of renewable energy technologies. Majority of the Philippines power supply come from coal power plants which supply about 26% of the energy mix. Existing Renewable Energy supply however is at 0.16% only.
According to the recent Renewable Energy Coalition’s study, the Philippines has untapped renewable energy potential of: Geothermal (4,531 MW), Hydro electric (13,097 MW) and Wind (76,600 MW). More than enough to offset the current capacity of Coal (4,213 MW) and Fuel Oil Power Plants (3,616 MW) in the country as well as meet future need. The Philippines is still waiting for the passage of the Renewable Energy Bill that will give incentives and breaks to potential Renewable Energy Investors.
A top NASA scientist said recently that we are in a Climate Crisis tipping point and lays partial blame on Coal plants for the high volume of CO2 in the atmosphere. Also in the news this week was the article that for the first time in the history of man, the high possibility of there being no ice in the North Pole this summer.
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Category: Coal, Clean Energy
