March 4, 2018 | 10:00 pm
THE Philippines ended
2017 with a total installed capacity of 22,728 megawatts (MW), of which coal
has remained the dominant energy source with a share of 35.4%, latest data from
the Department of Energy (DoE) show.
Coal-fired power plants
had a total installed capacity of 8,049 MW. Renewable energy (RE) sources
followed closely at 7,079 MW or 31.1% of the total, although taken individually
only hydroelectric power plants posted a double-digit share of the total at 16%
or 3,627 MW.
Oil-based energy
sources made up 18.3% of dependable capacity at 4,153 MW. Natural gas had a
share of 15.2% or 3,447 MW as of end-2017.
The latest DoE data
show coal power plants’ share to have expanded from 34.6% in 2016. The share of
oil-based plants also increased from 16.9%, the DoE report for 2016 shows. The
country imports most of its oil and coal requirements.
In contrast, the share
of RE contracted from 32.5%, while that of natural gas also shrank from 16%.
Sought for comment on
the country’s capacity mix and electrification rate, National Economic and
Development Authority Director-General Ernesto M. Pernia said he was confident
of achieving the government’s targets for the energy sector as called for under
the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).
In a speech on Friday,
he pointed to Chapter 19 of the PDP, which he said underscores attaining energy
security and self-sufficiency, meeting energy demand, and improving access to
electricity.
Under the plan, he said
energy security would be pursued by increasing energy-generating capacity,
encouraging efficient use of energy and implementing various transmission
projects.
He also said energy
self-sufficiency is projected to reach 60% of the energy mix by 2030. He said
energy self-sufficiency was recorded at 55.3% in 2016, of which 37% was
attributed to renewable energy. — Victor V. Saulon
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