DOE wants wind technology included in energy infra plan

MANILA, Philippines–Seeking more investments in renewable energy (R.E.), the Department of Energy (DOE) is pushing wind technology, among others, for energy infrastructure development.

The DOE is presently looking into the impact of additional wind capacity under the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) incentive scheme, under which developers are guaranteed certain rates depending on the technology they use.

Having recently raised the solar power capacity to be registered under FIT, the DOE is considering increasing wind capacity as well.

“We are still studying if there is a need to increase the wind quota,” Secretary Carlos Jericho L. Petilla said in a text message.

In a related development, the DOE launched the 2014 Wind Resource Atlas for Assessment and Geospatial Analysis for the Philippines to aid investors looking for potential areas for wind energy development.

“We hope this initiative will not only support our internal causes but also contribute internationally in the promotion of low carbon emitting technologies… It will similarly help our partners identify potential areas where wind development is feasible,” said Energy Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada during the launch yesterday.

Also at the launch were representatives from the Climate Change Commission, United States Agency for International Development (USAid) Philippines, and the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Earlier, the DOE said in a statement that the new wind atlas greatly expanded and updated the old wind resource atlas last published in 2001. The document included up-to-date resource modeling techniques as well as the turbine technologies over the past decade.

“This initiative supports the overall Philippine goal to promote wind development by providing wind resource information and tools that attract prospective R.E. developers and investors in the country and abroad,” the DOE said.

The necessary data will be publicly available thereby boosting the confidence of investors and providing references to policy makers in the crafting of incentives and guiding principles on R.E.

Last year, the USAid, through the Building Low Emissions Alternatives to Develop Economic Resilience and Sustainability Project (B-LEADERS), conducted a hands-on workshop with the DOE on the new wind resource atlas. The department will continue to lead the sector in pursuit of a better RE industry for a sustainable future for the country.