The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) suggests that waste-to-energy initiatives can help achieve the goals of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2023 to 2028.
ECCP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE & EE) Co-Chairman Jose M. Layug states that biomass can encourage local governments to convert waste to energy.
Layug highlights waste management as a significant issue in the current administration and emphasizes the need for a waste energy bill to incentivize local government units.
The current installed biomass capacity in the Philippines is under 5,000 megawatts (MW). However, biomass has the potential to reach a capacity of 4,449.59 MW.
Layug also stresses the importance of refocusing on geothermal energy, which he refers to as the neglected child of renewables.
The Philippines plans to hold a geothermal bidding this year.
Geothermal energy is advantageous as it does not produce greenhouse gases harmful to the environment.
Solar energy has an installed capacity of less than 5,000 MW as of September 2022. However, its potential for capacity growth exceeds 20,000 MW.
Wind energy has recently been awarded larger capacities in the Philippines.
Biomass energy to aid LGUs waste management
At a glance
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) suggested that waste-to-energy initiatives can help achieve the goals of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2023 to 2028.
At the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) forum, ECCP Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE & EE) Co-Chairman Jose M. Layug said that biomass would encourage local governments to convert waste to energy.
“In the PDP plan, waste management is a big issue in this administration,” said Layug.
“So, if you have a waste energy bill to be passed that will encourage local government units to utilize their garbage for power,” he added.
In his presentation of awarded RE contracts, the current number of installed biomass capacity and its potential remains under 5000 megawatts (MW).
However, Layug noted that biomass as a RE source could reach a potential of 4,449.59 MW.
Aside from waste-to-energy, Layug mentioned the need to regain resource attention towards geothermal energy.
Dubbing geothermal as the neglected child of renewables, he stated, “Once upon a time, we were the second-largest geothermal [producer] way back before the pandemic.”
This year, Layug said that the country will offer a geothermal bidding.
Geothermal does not produce greenhouse gases (GHG) that are deemed harmful to the environment, which is why it is essential for the Philippines to regain its position towards this RE source.
Other RE sources such as Solar and Wind energy have been recently awarded with larger capacities.
The installed capacity of solar energy as of Sept 2022 was below 5000 MW, according to Layug.
However, its potential to grow a larger capacity would reach a little over 20,000 MW.
Solar plants are currently being acquired in parts of Bulacan, Pamanga, and Laguna.
Layug also shared that the government is also looking for other areas to construct floating solar panels.
Meanwhile, the potential capacity of wind energy could reach around 30,000 MW. This is the largest amount presented by the ECCP RE&EE Co-Chair.
“Now you can build wind farms with big capacities, [and the minimum capacity for] off-shore wind is around 1 kilowatt (KW),” he explained.
“Hopefully, these off-shore wind plants can replace our more expensive power plants,” said Layug.
Offshore winds are used via the force of the winds at the sea and are transformed into energy. (Gabriell Christel Galang)