Renewable energy program on track

Manila Times.net
Published : Tuesday, December 20, 2011 00:00 
Written by : Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter


The Department of Energy (DOE) said the government’s renewable energy program is on track.
Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the department has signed over a thousand megawatts worth of contracts for hydropower projects alone.
“The problem before the DOE just kept on releasing/issuing service contracts without fixing the peripheral issues. But now we’re trying to make sure that if you have a service contract, the chance of you getting that project off the ground really moves,” he said.


The energy chief did not specify the measures adopted to ensure the viability of projects, after the department placed all energy contracts under review upon the start of the Aquino administration.


The move was meant to “level the playing field” in the sector as well as to make sure there were no overlapping claims or other issues that could hamper the development of energy sources.


“We have the solutions and implemented the solutions. We’ve tested it and it works. So now it’s just implementing it and we can expect it will continue,” Almendras said.


Based on the DOE’s renewable energy registration and accreditation report, there were 406 renewable energy projects pending before the department as of November.


These projects—more than two-thirds of which are hydroelectric plants—have a potential power generating capacity of over 6,000 megawatts.


The contracts pending before the DOE are on top of those approved since the passage of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which was crafted to spur the development of such projects.


The DOE has awarded 236 projects with a potential power generating capacity of 2,800 megawatts once they are completed.