DOE underscores role of renewable energy specifically during recent periods of Yellow, Red Alerts

Transcript

00:00There are very many reasons to turn to renewable energy to fulfill every household's power needs,

00:05which is why the Marcus administration wants to more aggressively pursue its

00:09program and policies on clean energy. Joshua Garcia has the details.

00:16Cut costs and help the environment. This is now Lester's guiding principle,

00:20as he pays almost nothing for his monthly electricity thanks to solar energy. He

00:25explains that it all began when he started a business selling LED lights,

00:28which reduced power consumption by over 80% compared to regular bulbs. Eventually,

00:33he expanded into solar energy, first experimenting with it in his own home.

00:58Right now, the cost of installing solar energy in a home ranges from Php 50,000 to over Php 100,000,

01:14depending on the appliances used, such as air conditioners, lights, washing machines,

01:19refrigerators, and others. However, Lester explains that this is a worthwhile investment,

01:24especially since solar panels last over 10 years, and other components,

01:29like batteries and inverters, can last more than three years, depending on their maintenance and

01:33usage. The return on investment or ROI can be felt within three to five years.

01:38According to the Energy Department, the Philippines is steadily advancing towards clean,

01:56sustainable, and renewable energy, in line with the current administration's mandate.

02:01In his last State of the Nation address, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. emphasized the need for

02:05the government to be more proactive in promoting renewable energy use in the country. The DOE is

02:11responding to this by continually expanding its programs and policies for clean energy.

02:36According to DOE Renewable Energy Management Bureau, Assistant Secretary Maylene Capongcol,

02:43foreign investments in renewable energy are steadily increasing,

02:47especially now that 100% foreign ownership in e-projects is permitted in the Philippines.

03:05Capongcol further emphasized the substantial role of renewable energy, particularly during

03:15recent periods of yellow and red alerts on electricity supply. Consequently,

03:19the agency seeks to enhance the renewable energy sector's contribution even further.

03:36Aside from investors, consumers with sufficient capability can also contribute by entering into

03:41agreements with host distribution utilities through what they call net metering using solar panels.

04:06Meanwhile, the DOE continues to flesh out its programs such as their Green Energy Auction,

04:14which assists in setting capacities originating from geothermal, impounding hydro, and pump storage

04:20hydro. These power sources support variable energy from solar and wind resources with the help of

04:25other complementary technologies like energy storage systems.

04:36Currently, there are over 1,000 active energy projects in the country,

05:04encompassing solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, and ocean-powered energy.

05:11In the upcoming third state-of-the-nation address of President Marcos Jr., renewable energy is

05:15expected to rank high in his working agenda like he previously mentioned in his past sauna. It is

05:20seen as a way to help provide power or electricity to households, especially in remote areas,

05:25with 100% electrification nationwide as the ultimate objective in mind.

05:29Joshua Garcia, from the National TV Network, for New and Better Philippines.