NEGROS Occidental needs to have an energy forecast to efficiently utilize its renewable energy (RE) potentials, especially solar, a green energy advocate said.
Reubin Muni, climate and energy campaigner of Greenpeace Philippines, said the energy forecast based on research is vital in making the right plan for energy use.
Muni said green energy resources, like solar and wind, are variables.
Meaning, there are certain times of the year where these are strong thus, the forecast would enable the province to establish the usage pattern.
“The country still has no energy forecast, if ever there is, it is not yet fully established or still lack rigorous study,” Muni said, adding that the issue is not only the “reliability” of renewables, but in having the right plan for its utilization.
With its current generation capacity of at least 300 megawatts for solar alone, Negros Occidental is considered the country’s RE capital. It also has other potential RE resources like biomass and hydro.
Thus, the Department of Energy (DOE) as well as other industry stakeholders are confident that Negros Occidental can be an entirely "green" province by 2030.
Muni pointed out that the myth is relying only on single source, particularly solar.
“The reality, on the other hand, is that we are looking at mix renewable energy resources,” he said.
By having the right plan, the province would be able to know what source to turn to depending on the time of the day or the season of the year, he added.
Summer season is peak for solar while biomass and hydro also have their respective variabilities.
Establishing an energy forecast is under the mandate of the government like the DOE, but the best way to do it is through the participation of all concerned sectors, including electric consumers, Muni said.
He added that aside from variability, issues on transmission should also be addressed.
“Part of pushing for an efficient use of abundant RE sources is realizing that transmission facilities also need to be upgraded,” Muni further said.
