Clean energy lights Palawan village

Manila Bulletin
February 21, 2014

Residents of Sitio Green Island in Roxas, Palawan will now enjoy a more reliable and sustainable source of electricity using hybrid renewable energy, thanks to the support from the U.S. Embassy Manila’s United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The facility, a 25.5-kW hybrid renewable energy power system, was built through the help of USAID’s Climate Change and Clean Energy project. It consists of a biomass gasifier, solar photovoltaic system and wind turbine.

It was recently inaugurated by USAID’s Joseph Foltz, acting director for environment, energy and climate change office, together with officials of the Department of Energy and local provincial and municipal officials.

Sitio Green Island is one of the smaller villages in the country and is categorized as a missionary area or those that are not connected to the main transmission grid. Missionary areas are often powered by small generator sets run by diesel or bunker fuel which has been proven as costly and with unreliable services. Some missionary areas are too remote with relatively small population making it harder to establish electric power systems.

USAID/Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele said in a message: “The renewable energy system was initiated in support of the Philippine government’s ‘energy reform agenda, energy access for more’, which aims to provide electricity for Filipinos from all parts of the country.

“We hope this pioneering initiative will be replicated so that more communities, especially in remote areas in the country can have access to electricity and help contribute to their economic development,” Steele added.

The project is implemented in partnership with the local government of Roxas and the Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology, which will eventually own and operate the hybrid renewable energy power station. The pilot project will result in the electrification of over 50 households in Green Island’s Zone IV, the area farthest to the diesel-generator set. As part of the sustainability plan, the project includes an ice flake machine maker to help preserve the catch of the fisherfolk and a reverse-osmosis machine as source of potable water for the residents of Green Island.

The establishment of the hybrid renewable energy power system was made possible through a grant awarded to Solutions Using Renewable Energy, Inc. (SURE) under the USAID-Clean Energy grants program. The Green Island project is one of the six grants of USAID’s Clean Energy project which promotes renewable energy for utilization in the power and transport sectors.

COLD CHAIN PROJECT – Meanwhile, the US Department of Agriculture recently launched the Cold Chain Project in Caraga region for safer food and strengthened economy.

The Philippine Cold Chain Project (PCCP) will work with horticulture, meat, and fish sectors that can benefit from a cold chain, or temperature-controlled, supply system. Upon its completion, PCCP is expected to bring important economic gains to the Caraga region and be an example for future growth in the Philippines.

USDA has provided a $15-million grant to Winrock International to implement the four-year project.   source