Business World Online
Posted on February 19, 2014 10:44:47 PM
DAVAO CITY -- Over 800 megawatts (MW) of biomass and hydropower may be tapped in Mindanao, according to a renewable energy resource assessment presented to stakeholders here on Tuesday.
The assessment, known as the Climate Change and Clean Energy Project, is spearheaded by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), Department of Energy and funded by the US Agency for International Development.
Bernardo D. Tadeo, consultant of the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, said there is potential biomass power of up to 795 MW, excluding the 263.9 MW of planned and existing biomass projects under construction or in operation as of October 2013.
As for hydropower, Anastacio D. Cubos, Jr., assessment team leader for hydro sources, said: “There is a potential 20 megawatts (MW) that can be generated from all the identified river sources.”
These three regions were found to have 12 potential sites for hydropower plants:
CARAGA
• Bega, 1.4 MW
• Misli, 800 kW
• Maug and Gibong, 8.5 MW
SOCCSKSARGEN
• Badtasan, 8 MW
• Tran River, 350 kW
DAVAO REGION
• Mangkangay, 300 kW
• Dumago-ok, 3 MW
• Miral, 300 kW;
• Kapatagan, 800 kW
• Alop Falls, 17 kW
• Kidadan Falls, 60 kW
Romeo M. Montenegro, MinDA director, said the study is significant considering the government’s intention to promote and facilitate renewable energy investments in Mindanao and to sustain the ideal mix of 50% renewable energy and 50% fossil fuel-based for the island in the future.
“The study focused on biomass and hydro because Mindanao is primarily an agricultural area, and there are many sources of feedmill here, including coco husks, straw, corn, corn cob, sugarcane and other agricultural waste,” Mr. Montenegro also said.
More than 50% of the island’s power supply already relies on hydropower, so there are many benchmarks for these two sources, he added.
Mr. Montenegro said there is actually no need to study solar energy since it has been proven a viable source of alternative power, and there are already several independent proponents for this.
However, he added, solar energy cannot be a standalone source of electricity because it is just not enough. It is, however, ideal for water heaters or lighting systems.
The only operational solar power plant in the Philippines is the Cagayan de Oro Photovoltaic Power Plant of Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co., Inc., with a 1.1-MW capacity, covering 2.5 hectares.
The Surallah Photovoltaic Power Plant in South Cotabato, with a 5-MW capacity, is still under construction.
Installation cost of the plant in 2004 amounted to $5.3 million. The plant is to use 6,500 solar panels.
There are plans to expand the Cagayan de Oro plant into a larger, 30-hectare, 10-MW solar plant at the First Cagayan de Oro Business Park in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.
“But, looking at [the Cagayan de Oro plant] you will need a 250-hectare area in order to produce 100 MW of power,” Mr. Montenegro said.
The Mindanao grid currently requires about 1,400 MW and runs a deficit from 100 MW to 200 MW.
While the Mt. Apo geothermal plant in Kidapawan, North Cotabato has proven viable, there are no other areas that generate geothermal energy in the island.
Mr. Montenegro also said there is, as yet, no study for the viability of wind energy in Mindanao because, so far, it has only proven viable in Luzon. -- Carmencita A. Carillo source
Bernardo D. Tadeo, consultant of the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative, said there is potential biomass power of up to 795 MW, excluding the 263.9 MW of planned and existing biomass projects under construction or in operation as of October 2013.
As for hydropower, Anastacio D. Cubos, Jr., assessment team leader for hydro sources, said: “There is a potential 20 megawatts (MW) that can be generated from all the identified river sources.”
These three regions were found to have 12 potential sites for hydropower plants:
CARAGA
• Bega, 1.4 MW
• Misli, 800 kW
• Maug and Gibong, 8.5 MW
SOCCSKSARGEN
• Badtasan, 8 MW
• Tran River, 350 kW
DAVAO REGION
• Mangkangay, 300 kW
• Dumago-ok, 3 MW
• Miral, 300 kW;
• Kapatagan, 800 kW
• Alop Falls, 17 kW
• Kidadan Falls, 60 kW
Romeo M. Montenegro, MinDA director, said the study is significant considering the government’s intention to promote and facilitate renewable energy investments in Mindanao and to sustain the ideal mix of 50% renewable energy and 50% fossil fuel-based for the island in the future.
“The study focused on biomass and hydro because Mindanao is primarily an agricultural area, and there are many sources of feedmill here, including coco husks, straw, corn, corn cob, sugarcane and other agricultural waste,” Mr. Montenegro also said.
More than 50% of the island’s power supply already relies on hydropower, so there are many benchmarks for these two sources, he added.
Mr. Montenegro said there is actually no need to study solar energy since it has been proven a viable source of alternative power, and there are already several independent proponents for this.
However, he added, solar energy cannot be a standalone source of electricity because it is just not enough. It is, however, ideal for water heaters or lighting systems.
The only operational solar power plant in the Philippines is the Cagayan de Oro Photovoltaic Power Plant of Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co., Inc., with a 1.1-MW capacity, covering 2.5 hectares.
The Surallah Photovoltaic Power Plant in South Cotabato, with a 5-MW capacity, is still under construction.
Installation cost of the plant in 2004 amounted to $5.3 million. The plant is to use 6,500 solar panels.
There are plans to expand the Cagayan de Oro plant into a larger, 30-hectare, 10-MW solar plant at the First Cagayan de Oro Business Park in Villanueva, Misamis Oriental.
“But, looking at [the Cagayan de Oro plant] you will need a 250-hectare area in order to produce 100 MW of power,” Mr. Montenegro said.
The Mindanao grid currently requires about 1,400 MW and runs a deficit from 100 MW to 200 MW.
While the Mt. Apo geothermal plant in Kidapawan, North Cotabato has proven viable, there are no other areas that generate geothermal energy in the island.
Mr. Montenegro also said there is, as yet, no study for the viability of wind energy in Mindanao because, so far, it has only proven viable in Luzon. -- Carmencita A. Carillo source
No comments:
Post a Comment