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URL:  https://www.facebook.com/mindanaocross/posts/743024972451344/
TITLE: ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES FOR ARMM SOUGHT
AUTHOR: Nash B. Maulana
DATE PUBLISHED: December 15, 2014
KEY INFO: Government offices in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) are required to use environmental-friendly energy-generating sources like off-grid renewable energy-generating devices such as solar panels. This region also provides a huge source of hydropower generated-electricity at Lake Lanao by the National Power Corporation (NPC).

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ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES FOR ARMM SOUGHT 

Government offices and corporations in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) will be required to utilize environmental-friendly energy...

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URL: https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1911160/davao/feature/a-long-road-for-renewable-energy-in-mindanao
TITLE: A long road for renewable energy in Mindanao
AUTHOR: REUEL JOHN F. LUMAWAG
DATE PUBLISHED: October 24, 2021
KEY INFO: Mindanao relies a lot on coal-fired power plants which is subject to change hopefully by 2030 by replacing them with power plants reliant on renewable resources. But, balancing the grid is important especially when solar and wind power aren't available all the time. If the grid can be balanced, Mindanao can rely on some of the renewable energy resources and some of the existing coal-fired power plants so as to not build new power plants that could add to the emissions. Additionally, the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plants is seen to lessen Mindanao's reliance on non-renewable energy resources.

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[Editor's note: This is the second part of the story "Powered up' Mindanao" that came out on October 18, 2021].

DURING the launch of the Philippines' Sustainable Finance Roadmap and Guiding Principles on October 20, 2021, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez said the Philippine government is "committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75 percent over the next decade."

Among the strategies the government is leaning towards more is increasing the share of renewable energy in the overall power supply mix of the country. At present, the country is relying on non-renewable resources like oil and coal to sustain its energy demands. The same can be said for the current power situation in Mindanao, which used to see a higher share of renewable energy sources in the power supply mix around a decade ago.

Following the entry of more coal-fired power plants in 2014 and 2015, the share of coal-fired power plants has steadily increased. The entry of these large baseload power plants, with a single unit of the power plant being able to supply the grid with around 100 MW to 150 MW, filled the gaps of Mindanao's energy demand. This in turn led to more investments and a better business climate for the island.

Based on the daily power monitoring of the Department of Energy in Mindanao (DOE-Mindanao), as of October 17, 2021, the total rated capacity of all power plants in Mindanao is 4,463.13 megawatts (MW) while total generation is at 260,356-megawatt hour (MWh).

Of Mindanao's total capacity mix, coal-fired power plants account for 2,263 MW or 51 percent of Mindanao's capacity mix. It is followed by hydroelectric plants (1,158.17 MW or 26 percent), oil-based power plants (771.20 MW or 17 percent), geothermal (104.48 MW or 2 percent), solar (79.98 MW or 2 percent), and biomass (66.30 MW or 2 percent).

In terms of generation mix, coal-fired power plants are generating 162,842.04 MWh. This is around 62 percent of the total power being generated by the power plants in Mindanao. Coal plants are followed by hydroelectric plants (80,881.92 MWh), geothermal (9,726.66 MWh), oil-based power plants (3,121.05 MWh), biomass (1,949.37 MWh), and solar (1,838.43 MWh).

However, in a bid to meet its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the government is looking into the possibility of slowly retiring the coal-fired power plants in Mindanao.

"As we improve our renewable energy sources, we will retire coal-fired plants in the region. This landmark project will be launched at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow. This could serve as a model for coal-dependent emerging economies to gradually shift from fossil fuels to more sustainable and greener energy sources," Dominguez said during the launch of the Sustainable Finance Roadmap and its Guiding Principles on October 20, 2021.

He added that the government is "exploring a financing mechanism that will improve the generating capacity of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plant in Mindanao." The hydroelectric power plants have a combined installed capacity of 1,001 MW. However, due to several factors, including its aging equipment, the average available capacity is only around 600 MW to 700 MW. This further drops during the dry season or El Niño.

According to the recently released Philippine Energy Plan (PEP) 2020-2040, the National Power Corporation (NPC) "is currently in the preparatory stage for the implementation of the Agus-Pulangi Rehabilitation Project (APRP)" with the involvement of Department of Finance, Department of Energy, and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (Psalm).

"The project aims to restore the original combined capacity of about 1001 MW and extend their economic life to another 30 years," DOE said in its report.

According to the Project Information Document (PID) of the APRP that was submitted to the World Bank, the project seeks "to enhance the reliability of clean energy generation in Mindanao."

The rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plants is seen to lessen Mindanao's reliance on non-renewable energy resources.
Future renewable energy projects
Aside from the planned rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi hydropower plants, the private sector is also heeding the call of the government to establish renewable energy plants in Mindanao.

Based on the list of committed power projects in Mindanao as of May 31, 2021, there are a total of 13 renewable projects with a combined installed capacity of 102.03 MW. Based on the description of the Electric Power Industry Management Bureau, committed power projects are those "that have secured financial closure."

The largest of the committed renewable power projects in Mindanao is the 25 MW Lake Mainit Hydroelectric Power Plant of the Agusan Power Corporation in Jabonga, Agusan del Norte.

Meanwhile, the Alsons Power Group has announced that it will be venturing into renewable energy. It announced in 2018 that it will be investing P4.25 billion for the 15.1 MW run-of-river hydroelectric power project (HEPP) at the Siguil River basin in Maasim, Sarangani Province. The project is currently listed among the committed power projects in Mindanao as of May 31, 2021. According to the data from DOE, the project's target commercial operation is December 2021.

During the webinar titled "Mindanao as the energy hub in the country, Davao as a world-class energy corridor" on September 23, 2021, Aboitiz Power Corporation Distribution Utilities chief operating officer Anton Perdices said as the company increases its portfolio to 9,200 MW in the next ten years, 50 percent of the portfolio or 4,600 MW will be renewable energy.

AboitizPower, which operates solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power plants in the country through different subsidiaries, will be investing around P190 million in the next decade for renewable energy.

"As of August 2021, we have already identified 2,900MW of new renewable projects across the country in all varying stages of development. This part of the additional 3,700 MW of Cleanergy that we are targeting to develop until 2030," Perdices said. Some of the projects could be in Mindanao.
Renewable energy investment hurdles
However, establishing a renewable energy power plant in Mindanao is not a smooth and fast ride.

Regulatory hurdles are affecting the investments for renewable energy plants.

Mindanao Development Authority Deputy Executive Director Assistant Secretary Romeo M. Montenegro said it is not easy to put up a renewable energy power plant in Mindanao or anywhere in the country due to the long regulatory process renewable energy investors had to undergo.

"Our policies as of the moment are heavily skewed towards fossil energy. Based on a study we did in 2012 on regulatory hurdles, [those] that are confronting proponents in renewable energy are much more cumbersome and an uphill climb compared to those applying for fossil energy," said Montenegro, who was a panelist in the same webinar on September 23. The webinar is part of a series of small virtual seminars leading up to the Davao Investment Conference (Icon) from November 11 to 12, 2021.

For coal-fired power plants, the regulatory process is around three years, while diesel power plants could be in six months.

Meanwhile, based on the Discussion Paper of Maureen Ane D. Rosellon titled "The Renewable Energy Policy Debate in the Philippines" and published in April 2017 by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, "renewable energy development up to the construction of a power plant can take four to five years to complete."

Rosellon also stated that "one company shared that it applied for 66 permits for a geothermal project, around 70 permits for a wind project."

"A solar and biomass company estimated that overall permitting may have required around 500 signatures. A hydropower company claimed that one project took around

1,300 signatures before they could begin construction - this includes signatures from the IP (Indigenous Peoples) communities. It was also noted that some signatures would require other persons to affix their initials," she said.

Other factors affecting the lengthy process of renewable energy plants included varying interpretation of rules, change of guidelines/policies upon assumption of new head/officer, and "First come, first served" policy.

Montenegro also said the policies or regulatory guidelines covering renewable energy would also depend on where it will be built or the technology being used.

However, despite the lengthy process, it takes for one to put up a renewable energy plant, Montenegro said the government, even in past administrations has made policy reforms to encourage the entry of renewable energy plants.

"We are seeing quite a lot of policy reforms in the past administrations that favored investments in the power generation sector or energy sector as a whole. We have always subscribed to the proposition that transition to renewable energy is policy-driven. Navigating to energy transition will require the work of many sectors and not just the power industry sector," Montenegro said.

The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (RA 9513) and the Biofuels Act of 2006 (RA 9367) are the country's two major policies on renewable energy cited in the discussion paper of Rosellon.

Under the Renewable Energy Act, there are programs or policies that seek to promote renewable energy investment. Among these is Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), Feed-in Tariff (FiT) System, Renewable Energy Market (REM), Green Energy Option Program, and the Net Metering agreements.

Montenegro said renewable energy projects could also benefit from the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (Create) Act. Under the law, it cuts the income tax rate of companies from 30 percent to 20 percent.

Philippine Energy Independence Council president Rolando Jason Paulino Jr. said the current policies on renewable energy are in the "right direction" towards encouraging more investments in this sector. However, the law has yet to be properly implemented.

He said there needs to be "clarity on some of these rules" that need to be "translated" to one that is more "practical and be easier to be implemented."

John Eric T. Francia, president and chief executive officer of AC Energy Corporation, also said some provisions of the Renewable Energy Act cannot be enjoyed by investors in Mindanao because the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (Wesm) is not yet in full operation on the island.

The Wesm "is a venue for trading electricity as a commodity." It is "where the generators sell their excess capacities not covered by contracts and where the customers buy additional capacities on top of their contracts."

Francia investors in Mindanao are not able to utilize the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) without the Wesm. The GEOP "is a voluntary policy mechanism allowing consumers with 100 kilowatts (kW) and above demand to source their electricity supply from renewable energy suppliers."

"GEOP is a very important driver for renewable energy. It is just starting in Luzon and the Visayas. It accelerates the open market because the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) is available to 500-kilowatt hour (kWh) customers. If you are a smaller customer, you do not have the benefit of choosing your supplier. But with the GEOP, that threshold goes down to 100kwh. So, that expands the market, and the power of choice in favor of the consumer is made more real," Francia said.

Francia, Wesm coupled with GEOP and RCOA can help spur more investment opportunities for renewable energy in Mindanao.

According to the DOE, while Wesm was launched on June 26, 2017, it is not yet on its commercial operations. For the commercial operation of the market to be declared, it has to meet a set of criteria -- systems and procedure, Trial Operations Program (TOP), operationalization, training, Price Determination Methodology, and New Market Management System.
Evolutionary transition
Paulino said coal remains to be a big part of the baseload of the Philippines, including Mindanao.

He said if the country wants to shift to a power supply mix that has a higher mix of renewable energy resources as against non-renewable resources, the shift has to be "evolutionary."

"Because if we want to really go for a renewable [energy] business in the future, we also need to be ready [with] power plants that allow us to meet the intermittent needs of renewable [energy plants]," Paulino said.

He said, for example, solar and wind will "not be there all the time."

"You need a power plant to come in whenever these renewable sources are not available," Paulino said.

One way that this can be done is to "balance the grid." This means that spreading out energy resources and at the same time investing in the power grid.

"It is helpful from an environmental perspective. Because if you can balance the grid, you can rely on some of the [renewable energy resources] in Mindanao and some of the existing coal-fired power plants in Mindanao. We do not need to build new power plants that could add to the emissions," Paulino said.

He said once the Mindanao-Visayas Interconnection Project is complete, it will allow Mindanao to export or import power from power plants outside the island. Currently, Mindanao is considered an independent grid from the main grid, which connects Luzon and Visayas.

However, Paulino said it is important that the submarine cables connecting the Mindanao and the main grid also have the capacity and capability to really maximize the power produced from Mindanao.

"There is the potential to develop the energy capacity that will allow us to balance the energy capacity that it is available in Luzon. If we can balance the whole country, that provides better security, sustainability, and independence from an energy perspective," Paulino said.

Meanwhile, Francia said battery energy storage systems (Bess) can also support the intermittent nature of some renewable energy resources.

"Bess is a type of energy storage system that is capable of storing energy electrochemically. It can be connected to the grid, small grid, distribution system, or end-user facility to deliver the energy demand when needed," AboitizPower said in a statement.

Perdices said AboitizPower, in partnership with Wartsila and Aboitiz Construction, will be putting up a 49 MW Bess project at the facility of Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) in Maco, Davao de Oro. This is among the 12 BESS projects the company is putting in the next ten years across the country. The BESS project in Maco is currently listed under DOE as an indicative power project.

"This will support TMI's capabilities to support the Mindanao grid especially during the summer months when there is a limited supply of energy generated by hydropower plants due to low water levels," he said.
Long way to go
Mindanao's power story has come a long way.

For a long time, the island was powered by mainly the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Plants. But as Mindanao's economy continued to grow, its power demand also went up.

The current power supply then was unable to support the power demands of the island leading to a power crisis that peaked from 2013 to 2014.

However, the entry of baseload coal-fired plants allowed the island to regain its footing leading to another economic boom. As a baseload power plant, coal-fired power plants were able to supply the daily power demands of Mindanao 24/7 as it continues to grow.

Now, Mindanao shifts to another chapter of its power story as it tries to balance sustainability, progress, and demand for power.

For now, it will be an uphill road if the government will push for a Mindanao grid that will be fully powered by renewable energy resources.

"For a developing country like ours, we have a long way to go it is possible that it will take time. Coal remains to be the most reliable and most economically viable energy source for us," Perdices said.

He added, "The reality is we cannot do away with coal unless a new technology proves to be environmentally sustainable yet as reliable and cost-effective as coal."

However, there remains to be an opportunity for renewable energy projects on the horizon.

Mindanao has an annual power demand growth of 7 percent and will be needing 100 MW to 150 MW per year. By 2030, Mindanao will need 3,500 MW of additional capacity.

Montenegro said in an earlier press forum that this could be a signal for power investors, especially those into renewable energy, to look into investing in Mindanao.

With this opportunity, Montenegro said the government is keen on meeting a 50 percent non-renewable and 50 percent renewable power mix by 2030 as stated under the Mindanao Development Framework.

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A long road for renewable energy in Mindanao

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Editor's note: This is the second part of the story "Powered up' Mindanao" that came out on October 18, 2021]. DURING the launch of the Philippines' Sustainable Finance Roadmap and Guiding Principles on October 20, 2021, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G.

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URL: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1700951/renewables-best-optionfor-cheap-energy-in-mindanao
TITLE: Renewables best option for cheap energy in Mindanao
AUTHOR: Germelina Lacorte
DATE PUBLISHED: December 4, 2022
KEY INFO: Solar panels are the “most mature” renewable energy technology commercially available that can be optimized at present.  If we could require all municipal halls, all government agencies to have solar PVs integrated into their energy systems, then it would definitely have a much bigger reduction on our dependence on fossil-based electricity, said Nelson Enano, director of Addu’s Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies and chair of the Ateneo-led research and development consortium Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC). Additionally, MREC has initially mapped out the potential energies that can be harvested in Mindanao, namely, the ocean, tidal and waves in Tawi-Tawi and Surigao provinces; solar in all areas; and wind in Camiguin and offshore on its western seaboard.

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DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines - Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, deputy executive director of the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda), loves to remember the time, not so long ago, when electricity rates in Mindanao hovered at P6 per kilowatt-hour, the lowest in the country.

This was when hydroelectricity generated from the waters of Agus and Pulangi rivers made up the bulk of the region's energy supply. The Agus and Pulangi plants had a combined installed capacity of 1,001.1 megawatts.

Pulangi IV in Maramag town, Bukidnon, has three generating units at 85 MW each, while the Agus complex comprises six plants with a total capacity of 746.1 MW. The waters of the 36.5-kilometer Agus River that snakes down from Marawi City in Lanao del Sur to Iligan Bay, come from the vast Lake Lanao, which has a surface area of 34,000 hectares, more than twice the land area of Quezon City.

Amid rising electricity demand, the government relied on fossil-based capacities to fill the gap, fueling the massive entry of coal-fired power plants into the Mindanao grid. And as they became dominant, Mindanao consumers had to bear rising electricity costs.

In Cagayan de Oro City, commercial power consumers of coal-dependent Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co. had to bear a 33-percent increase in cost, from P10.62 per kWh in January to P14.18 in July.

In contrast, the Davao Light and Power Co. (DLPC) billed commercial customers a lower rate, at most P13.4809 per kWh in August, and went down to P11.5634 in November. DLPC has a big bulk of hydropower in its retail mix, being the biggest contractor of power produced by the Agus and Pulangi plants, according to Montenegro.

Data from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) showed that as of June 30 this year, the highest actual system peak demand in Mindanao was only at 2,167 MW, on June 1. Based on Minda's economic projections, Mindanao will need an additional 3,000 MW generation capacity by 2030, and another 10,000 MW by 2040, and it wants these to be based on clean energy sources. It fixed an ambitious target of a 50 percent share of renewables in the region's power generation mix.

Enabling policies

In overturning the dominance of fossil-based capacities, Minda advocates an unconventional investment strategy.

"One way to increase the renewable energy capacity is to encourage successful multipurpose cooperatives in Mindanao, especially those with billions of assets already, to expand their portfolio by investing in small renewables, possibly in partnership with local governments or a joint venture with electric cooperatives in their areas," Montenegro told local officials in a gathering of Mindanao Renewable Energy Advocacy and Coordination Hub in July. "This is the kind of design that we hope can be propagated," he said.

Montenegro hopes for localities to build 2 MW or 3 MW capacities whether hydro, solar or biomass, whichever is technically viable in their areas, so these can add up to the projected requirement by 2030.

"Otherwise, we go business as usual, and business as usual is the situation we have today," he said.

He also urged local governments to put up small renewable energy capacities to power their own needs, aside from promoting these in unserved and underserved communities.

According to Randell Espina, dean of the school of engineering and architecture at the Ateneo de Davao University (Addu), the target is achievable if the government stops accepting new investments in coal-fired power plants in Mindanao, and ensures the efficiency of the existing Agus and Pulangi hydropower plants.

Up for rehab

As of December 2020, the Department of Energy said that the Agus and Pulangi plants had a combined dependable capacity of 844 MW although in the first six months of the year, these ran at most 669 MW, per NGCP data.

The aging facilities are up for rehabilitation and uprating, and there are efforts to build a seventh plant along Agus River in Baloi town, Lanao del Norte, that would add 255 MW of power generation capacity.

Espina also cited the need for policies that enable the growth of renewable energy capacities like incentives for installing photovoltaic (PV) panels on the rooftop of houses. With one-kilowatt peak capacity (kWp) panels on each house, Davao City could easily generate some 100 MW to 200 MW of electricity. "That's already the minimum because one rooftop can accommodate up to 10 kWp PV panels," he said.

Solar panels are the "most mature" renewable energy technology commercially available that can be optimized at present, said Nelson Enano, director of Addu's Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies and chair of the Ateneo-led research and development consortium Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC).

"If we could require all municipal halls, all government agencies to have solar PVs integrated into their energy systems, then it would definitely have a much bigger reduction on our dependence on fossil-based electricity," he said. "They have rooftops, right?"

MREC has initially mapped out the potential energies that can be harvested in Mindanao, namely, the ocean, tidal and waves in Tawi-Tawi and Surigao provinces; solar in all areas; and wind in Camiguin and offshore on its western seaboard.

"Solar leads all the other energy potentials because of Mindanao's place near the equator," Enano said.

Paradigm shift

Power supplied to the grid is traditionally categorized as base, intermediate, and peaking loads. Base load is meant to satisfy the minimum energy demand and is often provided by large power plants that can assure constant and reliable production.

A peaking load comes in during the short duration when demand spikes and reaches its highest point within a given day; it is halted when demand recedes. An intermediate load transitions from base to peak.

But the regreening of the grid would require a change of paradigm, Enano said, where variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind are integrated as "must-run generators" that will be supported with readily dispatchable capacities to compensate for the fluctuation in production, hence avoiding energy shortfalls.

To provide ramping up capacity for the grid, hydroelectric generation capacities such as the one harnessing the Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City can be converted into pumped storage hydropower (PSH) facilities that, according to the US Department of Energy, "store and generate electricity by moving water between two reservoirs at different elevations."

In a PSH facility, water is used many times over as it is pumped from the lower to the upper reservoir when there are more capacities producing electricity. When other capacities are not available, water is released to the lower reservoir, turning the power turbines.

Making things happen

Alberto Dalusung III, energy transition advisor of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), said that the report, Towards an Affordable and Reliable Grid with Energy Transition (Target), showed that while wind and solar capacities have variable energy production, these were predictable and could be integrated into the grid without causing problems."If we are biased toward renewable energy, we can find ways to make things happen," Enano said.

Already, the aim of saving on power costs among businesses, communities, and households is driving the growth of the renewables market in the region.

The rising cost of electricity prompts more people to turn to solar energy, said Cecille Rosalita, sales executive of Greenergy Development Corp., a renewable energy company based in Cagayan de Oro City. In Davao del Sur, people are paying as much as P15 per kWh of electricity, so it pays to invest in solar panels, which redounds to a 20 to 30 percent savings on electricity, she said.

In the remote community of Salaysay in Davao City's Marilog district, on-grid solar panels installed through a grant from the Department of Science and Technology allowed villagers to save as much as 46.66 percent on their electricity bills each month, village chief Roberto Itdang said.

The village used to pay P3,000 monthly for electricity, but this had been reduced to about P1,600 after the PV panels were installed. The barangay hall uses the electricity from the grid during the day and turns on the solar battery at night to light the gym where young villagers play.

The gym, which is adjacent to the barangay hall, also serves as an evacuation area during times of emergencies. It was there where people sought refuge when they fled their homes in 2018, during intense fighting between government forces and communist rebels on the outskirts of the village. It's also where they seek refuge during typhoons.

"The solar panels don't easily get blown away during typhoons or strong winds," Enano said. "In fact, they're designed that way. They strengthen the roof. They're also considered a climate adaptation instrument," he added.
* * * (Editor's Note: Reporting for this story was supported by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities under the Jaime Espina Klima Correspondents Fellowship)
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Renewables best option for cheap energy in Mindanao

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DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines - Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, deputy executive director of the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda), loves to remember the time, not so long ago, when electricity rates in Mindanao hovered at P6 per kilowatt-hour, the lowest in the country.

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URL: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/philippines-citicore-prepares-ipo-invest-4-bln-renewable-energy-2023-02-10/
TITLE: Philippines' Citicore prepares for IPO, to invest $4 bln in renewable energy
AUTHOR: Neil Jerome Morales
DATE PUBLISHED: February 9, 2023
KEY INFO: Although this isn't in the Mindanao context, it is still related to the advances or alternatives to non-renewable energy as Citicore Renewable Energy Corp, one of the Philippines' biggest solar power producers, is planning to go public this year to fund a $4 billion investment in new solar projects over the next five years. The Philippines, an archipelagic country among the most vulnerable to climate change, aims to increase renewables in its power mix to 35% by 2030, from 21% in 2020, and to 50% by 2040. Coal accounted for nearly 60% in 2020.

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MANILA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Citicore Renewable Energy Corp, one of the Philippines' biggest solar power producers, is planning to go public this year to fund a $4 billion investment in new solar projects over the next five years, its CEO said on Friday.

"For a country such as ours with limited oil and coal but have abundant sun, wind and water, it is imperative we deploy capital investment into renewable energy," Citicore President and CEO Oliver Tan told reporters.

Citicore will file documents for an initial public offering in the second quarter and complete its listing within the year, Tan said, adding it will be large enough to attract foreign investors for an international tranche.

Fresh capital from the listing will allow Citicore, which has an installed capacity of 241 megawatts via solar panels, to invest $800 million this year to increase output to 1 gigawatt (GW), and around $4 billion to reach 5 GW within five years, Tan said.

The Philippines, an archipelagic country among the most vulnerable to climate change, aims to increase renewables in its power mix to 35% by 2030, from 21% in 2020, and to 50% by 2040. Coal accounted for nearly 60% in 2020.

Citicore is also pursuing seven offshore wind projects with a total capacity of 3 GW.

Citicore is the parent firm of Citicore Energy REIT Corp (CREIT.PS) and is a sister company of Megawide Construction Corp (MWIDE.PS).

Citicore REIT on Friday listed its maiden ASEAN Green Bond in the Philippines' fixed income trading platform. It raised 4.5 billion pesos ($82.6 million) from its bond sale to fund acquisition of land for its renewable energy portfolio.

($1 = 54.50 Philippine pesos)

Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Philippines' Citicore prepares for IPO, to invest $4 bln in renewable energy

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MANILA, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Citicore Renewable Energy Corp, one of the Philippines' biggest solar power producers, is planning to go public this year to fund a $4 billion investment in new solar projects over the next five years, its CEO said on Friday.

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYKxYKdB0AE
TITLE: Agrovoltaic Solar Power Plant, to be built in Gensan
AUTHOR: UNTV News and Rescue

DATE PUBLISHED: January 30, 2023
KEY INFO: The Gensan Official Government intends to construct a solar power plant in General Santos. This will be the first in the country if the construction of the Agrovoltaic Solar Power Plant in General Santos City goes ahead, which is expected to provide more energy and jobs to the people of Gensan. The majority of the nearby city of General Santos experienced power outages on a regular basis and if this project is successful, the nearby city will benefit from it as well. This energy will not only solve a major problem in most households, but it will also be more environmentally friendly because solar energy is clean, renewable, and less expensive.

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Agrovoltaic Solar Power Plant, itatayo sa Gensan

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXrq5d9T1Zg
TITLE: Did Europe overcome its energy price crisis thanks to renewables?
AUTHOR: DW News

DATE PUBLISHED: January 5, 2023
KEY INFO: During the war between Russia and Ukraine, the world suffered from high diesel gas prices because the majority of imported diesel gas came from Russia. Gasoline prices have been a major driver of inflation in Europe. As a result of the war and sanctions imposed on Moscow, they reached all-time highs in 2022. Europe has been adapting to the use of renewable generating energy, with the goal of using 100% renewable generated energy. Europe has reduced its carbon footprint, with renewable energy accounting for 46% of total energy consumption. Knowing that Mindanao is rich in agriculture and biodiversity, it is essential to implement the use of green energy because it is healthier for our environment and benefits not only the animals around us but also us humans.

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Did Europe overcome its energy price crisis thanks to renewables? | DW News

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URL: https://m.facebook.com/MindanaoGoesSolar/photos/a.111184231535575/177640398223291/?type=3&source=48&__tn__=EH-R
TITLE: Solar power fuels Surigao island's rise from Odette
AUTHOR: Mindanao Goes Solar

DATE PUBLISHED: December 30, 2022
KEY INFO: Typhoon Odette has caused extensive damage to Surigao City and surrounding islands, including the electric grids and post. A study conducted by the University of the Philippines Diliman's Department of Chemical Engineering discovered that renewable energy-based hybrid systems could be suitable alternatives to diesel power plants in island grids. This would cut power costs by 20%, which would be a significant help to the city's growth. They can reduce costs, rely less on imported diesel, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using solar-powered energy.

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Studies have found that... - Mindanao Goes Solar Movement

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Studies have found that renewable energy-based hybrid systems could be a suitable alternative to diesel power plants in island grids. A study by Joey...

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8. PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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8. PUBLIC SERVICE MESSAGE OR PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmkF1ENuGQ
TITLE: ANGAT MINDANAO: The Future With Renewable Energy
AUTHOR: Sarah Carpio

DATE PUBLISHED: November 20, 2021
KEY INFO: This video discussed the future of renewable energy. Given Mindanao's abundance of land, agriculture, and biodiversity, it is essential to find a more environmentally friendly method of producing electricity. We can see that 5 years ago, the cost of electricity skyrocketed due to the rising price of Mindanao's primary energy source, coal. We can save a lot of money by investing in solar-powered energy by using renewable energy.

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ANGAT MINDANAO: The Future With Renewable Energy

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URL:  https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1698281/regreening-mindanao-grid
TITLE: Regreening Mindanao grid
AUTHOR:  Germelina Lacorte
KEY INFO: According to Randell Espina, dean of the Addu School of Engineering and Architecture, the country could only achieve an energy-secure future by making and using these renewable energy technologies locally. In AdDU, solar power makes up part of the energy that lights up the university classrooms and offices and runs the air conditioners, refrigerators, computers, and other electric equipment during the daytime. It allows the university to save up to 30 percent on its electricity bills which, according to Espina, could amount to P800 to P1.2 million per month at the current P12 per kilowatt-hour price of electricity.

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URL: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1182932
AUTHOR: Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
KEY INFO: According to the Philippine News Agency, the European Union (EU) has provided a solar power project in Mindanao, the southern region of the Philippines, which aims to supply electricity to over 30,000 homes. This project is part of the EU's efforts to support the Philippines in transitioning to renewable energy and reducing its dependence on fossil fuels. The project also helps to increase access to electricity for rural communities in Mindanao, improving their quality of life and promoting sustainable development. The specific details of the project, such as the location, budget, and timeline, were not specified in the article.

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URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dbBzgR9SAE
KEY INFO: In this vlog, it is shown that with a small solar panel setup you can save a lot of money. Their setup consists of 8 solar panels in a grid tie system, each panel has a capacity of 290W with a maximum capacity of 2.320 kW and has a daily average harvest of 10 kW per day. This Solar Panel although small, is enough for their daily usage and in return, they only pay a small amount in their electricity bill.

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D.I.Y Grid Tie Solar Setup (Davao Light - Net Metering) -  Vlog #05 [PART 1]

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URL:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2015/06/19/mindanao-sees-an-uptrend-in-renewable-energy-projects/
AUTHOR: Mindanao Development Authority
TITLE: Mindanao sees an uptrend in renewable energy projects
KEY INFO:
Applications for renewable energy projects in Mindanao increased (by 25.64%), showing a growing interest for clean energy in the island-region.

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Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines

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Applications for renewable energy projects in Mindanao increased (by 25.64%), showing a growing interest for clean energy in the island-region.
The One Stop Facilitation and Monitoring Center (OSFMC), which handles the fast tracking of pending RE projects in Mindanao received 59 new applications adding to a total of 290 applications for RE projects with a combined capacity of almost 3,000 megawatts (MW).

In May this year, the center reported 231 applications with a combined capacity of 2,419.17 MW. The additional RE project applications will have a combined capacity of 578.92 MW if completed and fully operational.

"The projects are spread across hydro, geothermal, solar, and biomass. The bulk of the pending RE power project applications however are hydropower with a total of 242 projects and a combined potential capacity of 2,147.71 MW," said Romeo Montenegro, director for Investment Promotions and Public Affairs Office of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).
minda.gov.ph

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Mindanao sees an uptrend in renewable energy projects | GOVPH

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Applications for renewable energy projects in Mindanao increased (by 25.64%), showing a growing interest for clean energy in the island-region. The One Stop Facilitation and Monitoring Center (OSFMC), which handles the fast tracking of pending RE projects in Mindanao received 59 new applications adding to a total of 290 applications for RE projects with a combined capacity of almost 3,000 megawatts (MW).

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URL:
https://www.doe.gov.ph/national-renewable-energy-program
TITLE:National Renewable Energy Program
AUTHOR:Department of Energy
DATE PUBLISHED: NA
KEY INFO:A program that outlines the policy framework for renewable resources in Republic Act 9513 which was approved on December 16, 2008 for promoting a development, utilizing and commercialize renewable energy. It is building block for the country to move forward and set goal in Renewable Energy Act of 2008 , they are also a helpful role for investments in the RE sector. And they are trying to achieve their goal within the timeframe of 2011-2030. Also, to develop the technology. NREP promises to continue a well-coordinated effort to drive the development in the RE sector.

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New RE plan targets 35% share of power generation by 2030

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MANILA – The Philippines’ proposed National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) 2020-2040 is setting a target of 35 percent share of renewable energy (RE) in the power generation mix by 2030 and 50 percent share by 2040.This was bared by Director Mylene C. Capongcol, OIC of the...

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14. NON - GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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14. NON - GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211467X19300082

TITLE: The role of renewable energy in the global energy transformation

AUTHOR/S: Dolf Gielen, Francisco Boshell, Deger Seygin, Morgan D. Bazilian, Nicholas Wagner, Ricardo Gorini.

PUBLISHED: January 31, 2019

Key Info: It was analyzed that the future of clean air, water, and accessible energy access is technically possible while avoiding climate change. And there are a lot of alternatives to fossil fuel, and we need to transition our global energy since our average global temperature is increasing by 2° Celsius. The ambition of renewable energy targets is consistently raised in many countries. Like the European Union adjusted its binding target for 2030 from 27% to 32% in June 2018. Since we are tackling a part of climate change, air pollution is our primary driver for this goal. And the emissions of CO2 need to be reduced by 85% between 2015 and 2050. And the decarbonization of the energy system is affordable, and the transition to the low-carbon energy sector will amount to 0.4% of the Global GDP in 2050. While this is happening in other countries, we can take inspiration from them and use it in Mindanao, and it may even be worth the investments in those areas to save our planet.

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Highlights

*

Energy-related CO2 emissions increase 6% from 33 Gt in 2015 to 35 Gt in 2050 under current and planned policies.

*

Emissions need to fall to 9.7 Gt in 2050 for an emissions pathway compatible with the 2 °C target of the Paris Agreement.

*

Renewable energy and energy efficiency, combined with electrification of end-uses, make up 94% of the emission reductions.

*

The share of renewable energy in total primary energy supply would rise from 14% in 2015 to 63% in 2050.

*

To achieve this share an average annual growth rate of 1.4ppt/yr is need - a six-fold increase from recent years rate.

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The share of renewable energy in the power sector would increase from 25% in 2015 to 85% in 2050.

*

To 2050, USD 120 trillion would need to be invested in the energy-system in the REmap energy transition case.

*

This represents an increase of USD 27 trillion compared to the Reference Case.

*

The energy transition case results in strong overall economic growth and employment.

*

Cumulative gain through increased GDP between 2015 and 2050 amounts to USD 52 trillion.

*

Additional 11.6 million direct and indirect jobs in the energy sector would also result.

Abstract

This paper explores the technical and economic characteristics of an accelerated energy transition to 2050, using new datasets for renewable energy. The analysis indicates that energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies are the core elements of that transition, and their synergies are likewise important. Favourable economics, ubiquitous resources, scalable technology, and significant socio-economic benefits underpin such a transition. Renewable energy can supply two-thirds of the total global energy demand, and contribute to the bulk of the greenhouse gas emissions reduction that is needed between now and 2050 for limiting average global surface temperature increase below 2 °C. Enabling policy and regulatory frameworks will need to be adjusted to mobilise the six-fold acceleration of renewables growth that is needed, with the highest growth estimated for wind and solar PV technologies, complemented by a high level of energy efficiency. Still, to ensure the eventual elimination of carbon dioxide emissions will require new technology and innovation, notably for the transport and manufacturing sectors, which remain largely ignored in the international debate. More attention is needed for emerging infrastructure issues such as charging infrastructure and other sector coupling implications.

View Abstract

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The role of renewable energy in the global energy transformation

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Energy-related CO2 emissions increase 6% from 33 Gt in 2015 to 35 Gt in 2050 under current and planned policies. * Emissions need to fall to 9.7 Gt in 2050 for an emissions pathway compatible with the 2 °C target of the Paris Agreement. * Renewable energy and energy efficiency, combined with electrification of end-uses, make up 94% of the emission reductions.

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URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKD3WpXrK88

TITLE: Power Play: Developing Renewable Energy Solutions for the Philippines | ANC

PUBLISHED: April 13, 2022

Interviewer: Michelle Ong

Hosts: Atty Andre de Jesus (DOE), Eric Fancia (Acen), Leandro Leviste (Solar Philippines), Oliver Tan (Citicore Power), Ed Francisco (BDO Capital), and Sara Ahmed (Financial Future Center).

Key info: This could help Mindanao since it is part of the Philippines. It is still affected by The commitment to the renewable market is still on track, even if the renewable market is still pending. However, the private sector is still in play regarding providing and trying to incentivize investment in renewables within 2030. So the economy will finally transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy. And the sector is also planning to develop battery and storage space for power. While we are still developing, the industry is also planning on doing business in neighboring countries. According to Eric Francia, while the demand is low in the pandemic, there are still opportunities in the region and they are doubling down in the Philippines for 2022 and are willing to invest 55 Billion pesos, more than 60% will be in the Philippines. According to Sara Jane Ahmed, not only they need to energy security but also on reliability.

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Power Play: Developing Renewable Energy Solutions for the Philippines | ANC

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeVfqiuZh9s
TITLE: Harnessing The Sun And Wind: Inside Our Renewable Energy Future | Climate For Change | Ep 2/2

AUTHOR: CNA Insider
PUBLISHED: February 27, 2021

KEY INFO: Not a Mindanao documentary but it may help a bit. A Singaporean engineer and a Cambodian engineer working together on how to start a windmill farm; we can see the engineers' process on where to put the windmill and what they need to do. The location also needs to be addressed while working on renewable energy to get its maximum capacity. Like in Singapore, the country is at the equator where wind speeds are low and the sun is their primary source of energy, since they are low on land, they either put solar panels on the roofs or make them float on water. And the solar farm is expected to generate over 6000 MWH for the whole year, which is equal to powering 1200 4-room hdb flats for a year. Vietnam wind farms with ten wind turbines can produce 40 MW per hour which can power over 500 households. Knowing what other countries are doing to save energy and create fewer gas emissions is essential. For the context of Mindanao, we can use this information to maximize our renewable energy farms for all the residents in the area, know what we should invest rather than invest in all renewable energy, and fight climate change.

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Harnessing The Sun And Wind: Inside Our Renewable Energy Future | Climate For Change | Ep 2/2

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URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IqhBgs3s5FU
TITLE: This Philippine city is on the path to a renewable energy future
AUTHOR: WWF-Philippines
DATE PUBLISHED: November 17, 2021
KEY INFO: Mindanao experienced massive power outages a few years ago, disrupting the lives of inhabitants and businesses in numerous areas. Renewable energy sources are critical to ensure that the region's rapid expansion continues for many years to come.
WWF-Philippines is collaborating closely with the government of Butuan and the local electric cooperative to provide guidance and technical expertise to adopt sustainable and climate-friendly solutions.

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This Philippine city is on the path to a renewable energy future

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URL: https://books.google.com.ph/books/about/Renewable_and_Alternative_Energy_Resourc.html?id=_bpQEAAAQBAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y
TITLE: Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources
AUTHOR: Muhammad Asif Hanif, Farwa Nadeem, Rida Tariq, Umer Rashid
DATE PUBLISHED: 2021
KEY INFO: Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources give detailed information on the state of all renewable and non-renewable energy resources. The chapters examine each energy source's technological advancements and environmental implications, providing a reference to up-to-date scientific progress, technical application, and comparative ecological study of each source. It relates to our research topic to gain knowledge on the process of creating energy; the book examines potential benefits and drawbacks pertinent to environmental issues, emphasizing the importance of implementing sustainable, accessible, cost-effective, and stable renewable energy supplies.

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Dr Hanif is an Assistant Professor & Group Leader at the Nano and Biomaterials lab within the Department of Chemistry at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. His work focuses on natural products and their analysis using advanced analytical chemistry, and he has published over 120 peer reviewed journal articles, 7 books/manuals and several book chapters. In addition, Dr Hanif has supervised over 40 M.Phil students and 3 PhD students. For outstanding contributions, he has made to the scientific development through the application of basic and applied scientific research particularly in the field of Chemical Sciences (Chemistry), and his unmatched services to community as the benchmark of excellence, the Pakistan Academy of Sciences has awarded him prestigious "Gold Medal" in 2019.

Farwa Nadeem has been working in capacity of environmentalist since last five years in international scientific organization. Her main task is to improve and protect the quality of natural environment. She is also working to overcome environmental changes harmful to human beings and other living organisms. She is educating people about green chemistry and environmental friendly chemical processes along with numerous industrial and agricultural activities. Exploration of alternative energy resources is another active field of her through comprehensive research at Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad-38040-Pakistan.

Rida Tariq has been working as a green energy expert at the International Scientific Organization for last 3 years to improve the purity of the natural environment. Her major goal is to enhance the quality and quantity of several renewable energy resources for a sustainable future and spends time informing communities about the utilization of fully environmental friendly green energy resources and conservation of natural environment.

Umer Rashid is working on analytical chemistry, industrial oil products, renewable energy resources and heterogeneous catalysts for production of least toxic biodiesels. He has research interests in the production and characterization of bio-lubricants, synthesis and characterization of heterogeneous catalysts, microwave technology and exploration of nonedible feedstocks for production of biodiesel. He has published 143 peer reviewed articles and has taught many courses related to green energy resources.

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Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources

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Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources provides comprehensive information on the status of all renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Chapters discuss the technological developments and environmental impacts of each energy source, giving a valuable reference of up-to-date scientific progress, technical application and comparative ecological analysis of each source.

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URL:
https://www.davao.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/100252941.pdf
TITLE: Opportunities for renewable energy technology investments in Davao Region
AUTHOR: Dr. Nelson H. Enano, Jr.
DATE PUBLISHED: 2020
KEY INFO: They are improving renewable sources of energy in Davao Region. Solar PV installation on government buildings' rooftops is standard practice to reduce electricity costs and better adapt in the aftermath of extreme weather disasters. Solar PV integration as a building industry standard. Net metering pricing parity between grid electricity and solar electricity
Create mechanisms for rooftop solar PV leasing.
GIDA areas in Mindanao's renewable energy access is being improved.

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URL:
http://teresay.com/switch-right-on-full-support-of-renewable-energy/
TITLE: Switch Right On
AUTHOR: Teresa
DATE PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 31, 2014
KEY INFO: The Switch Right On Movement seeks to raise public awareness about the current state of energy production and consumption and the policy direction for the local power sector. Renewable energy is derived from non-depletable sources, hence the name. We expect the sun, wind, water, and biomass or biological materials derived from living or recently living organisms to provide us with the energy we require to sustain our way of life. And this relates to our research topic of demonstrating the capabilities of renewable energy sources in our daily lives.