![]() ![]() While the national government has already taken some steps to transition away from fossil fuels, coal continues to dominate the Philippines’ power supply. DREs, especially those backed by batteries, can provide fast backup power during calamities, making the energy system more resilient. This reduces the need for extra-long transmission lines that can be exposed to intense storms or other natural disturbances. Since the Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands, distributed renewable energy (DRE) systems that are not dependent on the transportation of fuel are well-suited to the country's geographic profile. Providing consumer choice for low-cost clean energy sources can also result in savings and better profit margins for businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized businesses, which are more sensitive to changes in their month-to-month operational expenses than larger corporations.įinally, the low-carbon energy transition will help thwart climate change and reduce the carbon intensity of the Philippines’ power sector, as well as improve its energy system resilience. Decarbonized and decentralized power generation systems that do not require pricey, massive and logistically challenging transmission networks in rugged and remote terrains would further the goal of total electrification. While millions of new consumers gained access to electricity since 2000, some 2 million people in the Philippines are still without it. Renewable energy also reduces health risks since higher consumption of fossil fuels increases air pollution.Īdditionally, renewable energy can provide electricity access for all while reducing electricity costs for consumers. A May 2020 report by McKinsey showed that government spending on renewables and energy efficiency creates 3 times more jobs than spending on fossil fuels. The renewable energy sector already employed 11 million people worldwide as of 2018. According to the World Economic Forum, citing numbers from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), every dollar invested in the clean energy transition provides 3-8 times the return.įurthermore, the widespread adoption of renewable energy creates employment opportunities up and down the supply chain. ![]() For one, it could provide a much-needed economic boost and quell fears of a U-shaped recovery. Investing in renewable energy now should be one of the country’s priorities in order to alleviate several problems it faces. Photo by Lisa Marie David and IMF Photo/Flickr Investing in renewable energy could create a more stable electricity system while helping the Philippines rebound from economic downturn. In the last few years, as potential impacts become clearer, climate action has become an important issue for energy supply, energy security, job creation and post-pandemic essentials like cleaner air and a healthy planet.Ī cyclist passes the 32,000-panel Valenzuela Solar Farm in Manila. The island nation also remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The Philippines’ current blackouts, and the associated energy supply and security challenges, have already prompted multi-sectoral, bipartisan calls for action to transform the country’s energy system. How Will Renewable Energy Help the Philippines? Indeed, the country could finally be at a critical turning point in bringing its outdated energy system into the future. There’s a solution to the Philippines’ economic and energy woes: investing more in renewable energy development. The power supply instability may also be affecting COVID-19 vaccination rates, since vaccines need stable energy to meet temperature-control requirements. Rolling blackouts, which historically only happen in the hottest months of March and April when hydropower plants underperform due to water supply scarcity, have continued well through July, disrupting school and work for millions. In the first half of 2021 alone, 17 power-generating companies went offline and breached their plant outage allowances as a result of the so-called manual load dropping to preserve power grid stability. To exacerbate this economic and human catastrophe, the intermittent reliability of fossil fuel plants has led to forced power outages and unplanned maintenance. About 4.2 million Filipinos are unemployed, nearly 8 million took pay cuts and 1.1 million children dropped out of primary and secondary education as classes moved online. Over the last year, the Philippine economy registered its worst growth in 29 years. The country boasted an exemplary 6.4% annual GDP growth rate and was part of an elite list of countries experiencing uninterrupted economic growth for more than two decades. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines’ economy was humming. ![]()
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