The Philippines is endowed with an abundance of resources that could propel it as renewable energy (RE) leader in Southeast Asia.
Rice, coconut, and sugarcane crops generate volumes of residues that are utilized as fuel. Many provinces harness wind energy; the Philippines holds the largest potential for wind energy among Southeast Asian countries. The country’s location is just above the equator, which has abundant sunshine that can be tapped for solar energy. The country is the second largest geothermal producer in the world. It has abundant biomass resources.
Republic Act (RA) 9367, the Biofuels Act of 2006, mandates the use of biofuel-blended gasoline and diesel fuels. RA 9513, the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, provides the framework for a program to tap viable renewable energy sources, led by the Department of Energy (DOE). The National Renewable Energy Program is the government’s blueprint in implementing RA 9513 to accelerate development of the country’s RE resources such as wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass, and even ocean.
The use of RE sources is gaining ground in the Philippines. Several RE projects have been set up or are in being developed nationwide, many of which are supported by international funding agencies. Wind and geothermal plants are being set up in rural areas. The government is looking into rural electrification using biomass and biofuel.
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