HINDANG, LEYTE — Himokilan Island, one of the four islets that make up the so-called Cuatros Islas group in southwestern Leyte, has achieved a 100% share of renewable energy (RE) in its power supply.
Mar 292016
Jul 152015
THE NATIONAL Renewable Energy Board (NREB) wants the government to put a cap on every solar and wind project that will be enrolled under the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, to allow more developers to avail of the guaranteed tariff.
Jul 132015
Sadly, it is typhoon and habagat (monsoon) season again. It is usually at this season that our country suffers the brunt of some of the strongest typhoons to make landfall. Typhoons, according to the experts, are getting stronger as a result of climate change. Thus, in an effort to reduce the effects of climate change, renewable energy (RE) sources are highly encouraged by the government. Currently, RE sources available in the Philippines include hydro power, ocean energy, geothermal, wind, solar, and biomass, such as bagasse and palay husk.
Feb 122015
BURGOS, ILOCOS NORTE — As part of the preparations for the increase of solar power allocation under the feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme, industry stakeholders are seeking to lower the rate for projects utilizing that particular renewable energy (RE) technology.
Nov 252013
MANILA, Philippines – State-run National Power Corp. (Napocor) applying for an automatic tariff rate adjustment mechanism before the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), to sustain its financial viability, its top official said. The application for automatic tariff and universal charges for missionary electrification (UCME) adjustment mechanism is part of the power firm’s plans and projects to improve the delivery of electricity in so-called missionary areas, said Napocor president Ma. Glady Cruz-Sta. Rita. Sta. Rita said another of their project involves a massive re-fleeting and retirement program to replace oil and high-fuel consuming and unreliable diesel generator sets in the different missionary areas. UCME refers to the cost of service not covered by the subsidized approved generation rate. It is approved by the ERC and is collected from all end-users subsidizing the cost of electricity service in the island grid. Napocor’s UCME is at a prevailing rate of P0.0709 per kilowatt-hour. It intended to raise its UCME to P0.2262 per kwh by 2013 and P0.3179 per kwh for 2014. These missionary areas are scattered all over the country. They are far-flung villages and remote barangays that are not connected to the main power grid. Sta. Rita said a Napocor study showed that the break-even for recovery of capital cost vis-a-vis fuel savings ranges from 12 to 20 months. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 As such, Napocor would be pursuing procurement of new diesel generator sets to replace the rented ones and supplement the needed capacity of the first Read More …
Aug 112013
An example of a renewable energy project. MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Energy (DOE) expects an additional 5,905 megawatts of potential capacity from 347 new projects under the Renewable Energy law. These projects will have an installed capacity of 2,334 MW, according to the DOE. Of the 347 renewable energy projects, 177 are hydropower projects, 39 are geothermal ventures and 37 are wind farms. There are also 34 solar projects, 29 biomass projects and three projects that would utilize ocean energy, the DOE said. There are also 249 pending projects under the RE law, with a potential capacity of 3,301 MW and 20.75 MW of installed capacity. The Energy department is focused on solving the short-term power supply problem in Mindanao. The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa), has been urging renewable energy investments in the region to help address the current power supply crunch. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The government has been encouraging players in the renewable energy sector through feed-in-tariffs. The FIT regime is a form of incentives for renewable energy players. Feed-in tariffs offer cost-based compensation to renewable energy players among other perks.
Jul 082013
MANILA, Philippines – Constellation Energy Corp. (CEC) is expanding its business interests to green architecture, its top official said yesterday. CEC is building Mindanao’s first eco-friendly building in Cagayan de Oro City through a partnership with ItalPinas Euroasian Design and Eco-Development Corp. (ITPI), said CEC chairman and ItalPinas president Jose Leviste. “Constellation Energy’s venture into green architecture is but a natural consequence of our company’s full thrust in exploring multi-technology renewable energy (RE) projects,” said Leviste. CEC has RE service contracts with the Department of Energy (DOE) for several geothermal, wind and hydroelectric projects all over the country. The project is a P45-million mixed-used twin-tower condominium, which features eco-friendly design features, an inner courtyard and cross-ventilation layout among the units for natural airflow and illumination, said Italian architect Romolo Nati, ITPI chairman and chief executive officer. The 160-unit Primavera Residences Tower A, which was completed last year, boasts of shaded façades to reduce direct sun illumination on the windows to bring down internal temperature of each unit. The building is equipped with photovoltaic solar panels on the rooftop for renewable energy production. “With ItalPinas, we put our money where our mouth is by going to great lengths to put up eco-friendly and sustainable building,” said Nati, who also sits as vice chairman of CEC. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Leviste said Primavera’s “passive design elements” had resulted in the reduction of energy consumption in air-conditioning expenses for their building residents. Set up in 2009, ItalPinas has Read More …
May 302013
MANILA, Philippines – A unit of the Lopez Group has secured tax perks for its three renewable energy (RE) projects worth P11.96 billion. “The BOI (Board of Investments) approved this month First Gen Mindanao Hydro Power Corp. (FGMHPC) as RE developer of hydropower energy resources for its three projects in Mindanao worth P11.96 billion with a total energy capacity 62.75 megawatts (MW),” the agency said in a statement yesterday. With the approval of the registration of the three projects, FGMHPC can enjoy incentives such as income tax holidays and duty-free importation of equipment for seven years as provided by the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. RE is listed as a mandatory activity in the 2012 Investment Priorities Plan. The government provides incentives to encourage firms to invest in priority activities or sectors. The first of the three projects is the 23 MW Bubunawan hydropower project worth P5.07 billion, which will be located in Bukidnon. Business ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 The project, which will have two units of turbine-generator sets, is estimated to produce an annual average of about 138 gigawatt hours (GWH) of electrical energy with a maximum annual generation capability of about 201 GWH of clean and renewable energy. The project is expected to provide jobs to up to 45 personnel. The second project worth P1.803 billion will be situated within the Cabadbaran town of Agusan del Norte. The project, which will involve the construction and installation of up to three units of 3.25 MW Read More …
Apr 252013
ASIAPAC GREEN Renewable Corp. will enjoy tax perks after the Board of Investment (BoI) approved its four hydroelectric power plant projects in the Mountain Province.
Feb 122013
THE GOVERNMENT has come up with a decision to award renewable energy (RE) projects under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme only to developers that can already start commercial operations of their facilities, officials said yesterday.