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"To empower Mindanao local government units on renewable energy technologies and project development" (RESEARCHED BY: MARIAN RIJEL T. ALCANTARA)

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/MinDAgovphOfficial/posts/pfbid06AsqwimSmLNSnCghy7dMWVK3byDos6KYufSwDVgu39L2g5hsnpVBzK4JoUqZLHFfl

TITLE: To empower Mindanao local government units on renewable energy technologies and project development

AUTHOR: Mindanao Development Authority

DATE PUBLISHED: September 22, 2022

KEY INFO: The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) with the Mindanao Renewable Advocacy and Coordination Hub (MinREACH) held workshops for LGUs regarding Distributed Renewable Energy Systems (DRES) and Productive Uses of Renewable Energy (PURE). Its purpose is to help LGUs acquire knowledge about the concepts of renewable energy including solar and other types and understand resource assessment and technology matching for them to create drafts for their project proposals.

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LOOK: To empower Mindanao local government units on renewable energy technologies and project development, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA)... | By Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) | Facebook

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966 views, 23 likes, 12 loves, 1 comments, 21 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA): LOOK: To empower Mindanao local government units on renewable energy...

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Mindanao to tap more renewable energy sources. (RESEARCHED BY: MARIAN RIJEL T. ALCANTARA)

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URL: https://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2023/01/mindanao-to-tap-more-renewable-energy-sources/

TITLE: Mindanao to tap more renewable energy sources

AUTHOR: Antonio L. Colina IV

DATE PUBLISHED: January 12, 2023

KEY INFO: The island of Mindanao has an increasing demand for energy and is hoping to change the power mix present which is dominated by coal power plants into renewable sources such as solar energy. A solar power plant will be built aside from the one in Cagayan de Oro City. However, there are numerous challenges faced by investors of renewable and solar energy such as the agreements between the proponents and financial institutions and the available market.

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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 January) - More renewable energy sources are expected to be added to the Mindanao grid in the next six years, a move that may equalize the island's current power mix of 70-30 in favor of fossil fuels.

Mindanao Development Authority Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro said during "Wednesdays at Habi at Kape" that the island is hoping to see additional supply of about 2,000 megawatts from renewable energy between 2023 and 2028, of which 400 MW are committed applications and 1,600 MW are indicative or in the early stage of the application process.

He said renewable energy is being pushed in Mindanao as the government hopes to reverse the power mix of the island, which is dominated by coal-fed power plants, to comply with the country's obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Montenegro added that no new applications for construction of coal-fired power plants will be approved in Mindanao after the Department of Energy declared in 2020 a moratorium on endorsements for greenfield coal power plants.

The multilateral agreement, which entered into force on November 4, 2016, targets to limit "global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels" as part of global efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects.

Under this agreement, countries "aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century."

The Philippines signed the Paris Agreement on April 23, 2016, and it was ratified by the Senate on March 23, 2017.

Montenegro said the island has a total of 4,000 MW installed capacity, of which between 2,700 and 2,800 MW is available.

He added there are applications for solar, hydro, biomass, and other possible sources of renewable energy on the island.

"If these are implemented, and fully developing power to the grid, that will definitely turn the tide in favor of renewable energy by 2028. However, it's not easy to go through the several challenges," he said.

Montenegro said among the challenges that investors in renewable power encounter are the agreements between the proponents and financial institutions and the available market.

He said the power demand of Mindanao is continuously increasing at the rate of 4 to 7% annually.

"Definitely, we need at least 1,500 MW between now and 2030," he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

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Mindanao to tap more renewable energy sources

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DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 12 January) - More renewable energy sources are expected to be added to the Mindanao grid in the next six years, a move that may equalize the island's current power mix of 70-30 in favor of fossil fuels.

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BARMM lawmaker files 8 bills to speed up dev’t. (RESEARCHED BY: MARIAN RIJEL T. ALCANTARA)

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URL: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1193156?fbclid=IwAR0CEFc0qr_nPYBneldsJpUckjFHt-mkqmiujSDiI56lDxl-k6nbMAt_C_I

TITLE: BARMM lawmaker files 8 bills to speed up dev’t

AUTHOR: Edwin Fernandez

DATE PUBLISHED: January 10, 2023

KEY INFO: A BARMM lawmaker, Amilbahar Mawallil, filed bills that aim to hasten the development of the region including the BTA Bill 79 which encourages the BARMM government to install solar energy systems to promote investments in the energy and power generation sectors, and implement low-carbon, sustainable power generation policies.

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"Philippines Opens Renewable Energy to Full Foreign Ownership" (RESEARCHED BY: MARIAN RIJEL T. ALCANTARA)

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URL: https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/philippines-opens-renewable-energy-to-full-foreign-ownership/?fbclid=IwAR3tEV1xd7ii_iOv6MgIRkuHqHv_C_-1K0ldbL83s8iTD_ryC_N_ghKFzX8

TITLE: Philippines Opens Renewable Energy to Full Foreign Ownership

AUTHOR: Alexander Chipman Koty

DATE PUBLISHED: January 11, 2023

KEY INFO: The Philippines opens its doors to foreign ownership of renewable energy companies in the country to encourage more investments in the industry. This entails the exploration, development, and utilization of solar, wind, hydro, and ocean or tidal energy resources with additional benefits for the companies. This aims to increase the country's transition to renewable energy sources. The information is very much relevant to the research topic as Mindanao is open to foreign investments and ownerships of solar energy companies, and there are also existing foreign firms that support renewable sources in the island.

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The Philippines has recently allowed full foreign ownership of renewable energy projects. This includes the exploration, development, and utilization of solar, wind, hydro, and ocean or tidal energy resources.
The Philippines has fully opened its renewable energy sector to foreign ownership, representing a significant shift to the country's energy policies.

On November 15, 2022, the Philippines' Department of Energy (DOE) issued Circular No. 2022-11-0034. The circular amended 2008's Renewable Energy Act to remove stipulations that required Filipino ownership of certain renewable energy resources.

With the change, foreign investors can now hold 100 percent equity in the exploration, development, and utilization of solar, wind, hydro, and ocean or tidal energy resources. The policy change comes as the Philippines seeks to attract foreign investment to boost its renewable energy sector and meet its long-term climate targets.

The DOE issued the policy on November 15, 2022, and it came into effect on December 8, 2022.

Foreign ownership is fully permitted

The circular amends the implementing rules and regulations of the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, formally called the Republic Act No. 9512, to allow full foreign ownership of renewable energy projects. The Renewable Energy Act is a piece of legislation that provides a framework for the development, transmission, and utilization of renewable energy in the Philippines.

Namely, the circular amends Section 19 of the implementing rules and regulations by removing the requirement that the exploration, development, and utilization of solar, wind, hydro, and ocean or tidal energy sources can only be undertaken by Filipino citizens or entities that are at least 60 percent Filipino-owned. That requirement meant that foreign investors could only own up to 40 percent equity in such projects.

With foreign investors now able to own 100 percent equity in these projects, those currently operating in a joint venture with a Filipino partner may also now take a controlling stake in such ventures.

Incentivizing foreign investments in renewables

The Philippine government hopes that allowing foreign ownership of renewable energy projects will increase the speed of the Philippines' transition to renewable energy sources.

According to the Philippines' National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) 2020-2040, the country aims for renewables to comprise 35 percent of power generation by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. The government also seeks to lower the costs of renewable energy projects and make renewables more accessible to the public.

Despite these goals, the Philippines' transition to renewable energy sources is seeing a downward trend. In 2008, renewable energy made up 34 percent of power generation, but in 2021 it made up just 21 percent.

To encourage the development and use of renewable energy, the Philippine government has released an array of incentives and supportive policies. For example, the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 contains numerous incentives for investing in renewable energy, including:

A seven-year corporate income tax holiday;

A reduced 10 percent corporate income tax rate upon expiration of the tax holiday;

Tax exemptions for carbon credits generated from renewable energy sources;

A 1.5 percent realty tax cap on the original cost of equipment and facilities used to produce renewable energy; and

Value-added tax exemptions for the purchase, grid connection, and transmission of electricity generated from renewable sources.

Further, the government recently released new incentives for renewable energy companies and other green businesses in its 2022 Strategic Investment Priority Plan. These include corporate income tax holidays, enhanced deductions, and preferential tax rates for industries such as electric vehicle (EV) assembly, manufacture of EV parts, renewable energy, energy storage, recycling, and other green economy industries.

Accordingly, foreign investors entering the Philippines' newly open market for renewable energy can enjoy a variety of incentives. Together, these factors stand to add momentum to the Philippines' renewable energy transition and pursuit of its climate goals.

The Philippines' untapped renewable energy potential

The Philippines has an estimated 246,000 megawatts (MW) of untapped renewable energy. It has the world's third-largest geothermal capacity at 1,900 MW with Indonesia in second and the US on top.

The country's current mix of renewable energy consists of 4.3 gigawatts (GW) of hydropower, 896 MW from solar energy, and wind 427 MW. The Philippines adopted an ambitious plan to increase the share of renewable energy in the power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040.

This involves increasing geothermal capacity by 75 percent, expanding hydropower capacity by 160 percent, increasing wind power capacity to 2,345 MW, and adding an additional 277 MW of biomass power. The Department of Energy estimates the country needs US$120 billion by 2040, presenting ample opportunities for foreign investors.

ASEAN Briefing is produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. The firm assists foreign investors throughout Asia and maintains offices throughout ASEAN, including in Singapore, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang in Vietnam, Munich, and Essen in Germany, Boston, and Salt Lake City in the United States, Milan, Conegliano, and Udine in Italy, in addition to Jakarta, and Batam in Indonesia. We also have partner firms in Malaysia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Thailand as well as our practices in China and India. Please contact us at asia@dezshira.com or visit our website at www.dezshira.com.

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Philippines Opens Renewable Energy to Full Foreign Ownership

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The Philippines has recently allowed full foreign ownership of renewable energy projects. This includes the exploration, development, and utilization of solar, wind, hydro, and ocean or tidal energy resources. The Philippines has fully opened its renewable energy sector to foreign ownership, representing a significant shift to the country's energy policies.

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One Mindanao: Promoting Renewable Energy Access in Mindanao (RESEARCHED BY: AEON AEXZA L. BUSTILLO)

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URL: https://youtu.be/cbb_U_T3fu8

AUTHOR: GMA Regional TV

DATE PUBLISHED: September 15, 2022

KEY INFO: Organizations and private sectors are planning to reach zero net emissions by 2050 through the use of renewable energy. They aim to reach a 50% Renewable Energy (RE) share of the total energy share being used by the country by 2040 as opposed to the 30% RE share that it has right now. One of the negative impacts being experienced by the Mindanaoans from its dependence on its current power source is rotational brownouts. Hence, it seeks to reduce carbon emissions and expand renewable energy sources in the country, especially in Mindanao.

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One Mindanao: Promoting Renewable Energy Access in Mindanao

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The Philippines To Build The World's Largest Solar Park (RESEARCHED BY: AEON AEXZA L. BUSTILLO)

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URL: https://youtu.be/ca67SCfxkCI

AUTHOR: Behind Asia

DATE PUBLISHED: January 18, 2023

KEY INFO: The Philippines plans to build a 3.5 Gigawatts solar park which will be the largest solar park in the world once it is finished, compared to the largest solar park at present in India which only has 2.2 Gigawatts of power. This is spearheaded by a Philippine company called Solar Philippines and will be built in Nueva Ecija. The solar power plant is expected to surpass all power capacities in the country which will greatly help in boosting the Philippines' energy industry and economy. This information is of great relevance to the research topic as it is a concrete application of the advocacy of boosting the solar power accessibility in the country across all regions, including Mindanao.

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The Philippines To Build The World's Largest Solar Park

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Barefoot Philippines (RESEARCHED BY: AEON AEXZA L. BUSTILLO)

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URL: https://m.facebook.com/BarefootPhilippines/photos/a.1442912086016030/2514776045496290/?type=3

AUTHOR: Barefoot Philippines

DATE PUBLISHED: May 1, 2021

KEY INFO: Barefoot Philippines supports OurEnergy2030, a coalition that advocates for increasing the percentage and accessibility of renewable energy in the Philippines. They advocate for supporting innovations to accelerate energy and boosting the creation and distribution of technologies that allow widespread access to renewable energy for household power, cooking, and more. Furthermore, it seeks to provide clean energy for the benefit of children in rural communities to help in their learning and growth. This information is relevant to the research topic as it has the same advocacy of improving the accessibility of renewable sources such as solar energy in less developed areas including Mindanao.

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Barefoot Philippines supports... - Barefoot Philippines

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Barefoot Philippines supports OurEnergy2030, a coalition that advocates for increasing the percentage and accessibility of renewable energy in the...

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The first “ Solar Power ”Installation Project in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Mindanao Philippines (RESEARCHED BY: AEON AEXZA L. BUSTILLO)

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/sustenaph/videos/the-first-solar-power-installation-project-in-san-francisco-agusan-del-sur-minda/1621442314613743/

AUTHOR: Sustena Inc. Philippines

DATE PUBLISHED: February 7, 2018

KEY INFO: A solar power installation project in Mindanao is being promoted for the public's information and to also give motivation for other companies to start their plans for building more solar power plants in the region. The project is located in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur and is led by Sustena Inc. Philippines. According to the promotional video, the company aims to create a sustainable society for bright smiles of children.

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The first “ Solar Power ”Installation Project in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Mindanao Philippines 🇵🇭! 

Go Renewable energy ! 
Go Solar !!

【SYSTEM... | By Sustena Inc. - Philippines | Facebook

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1.2K views, 33 likes, 0 loves, 5 comments, 67 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Sustena Inc. - Philippines: The first “ Solar Power ”Installation Project in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Mindanao...

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Here's How Much It Costs to Install Solar Panels for Your Home (RESEARCHED BY JEZIEL A. HATAGUE)

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URL: https://www.preview.ph/culture/solar-panel-installation-cost-ogchannel-video-a2191-20220929

TITLE: Here's How Much It Costs to Install Solar Panels for Your Home

AUTHOR:  Steph Esguerra Olarte

DATE PUBLISHED: September 29, 2022

KEY INFO: A Filipino couple, Paul and Ella Baes, shares their experience with their solar-powered home. They mentioned how solar panels are a huge yet worth it investments to do. It is of great help to families as they will have lesser expenses at home and will not have to worry about their monthly electricity bills. Additionally, the system requires little to no maintenance and they also haven't experienced any challenges or problems with it.

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Mindanao is a testbed for clean energy in the Philippines (RESEARCHED BY JEZIEL A. HATAGUE)

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URL: https://techforimpact.asia/why-mindanao-is-key-to-the-clean-energy-future-of-the-philippines/

TITLE: Why Mindanao is key to the clean energy future of the Philippines

AUTHOR: Phillipine Donggay

DATE: September 29, 2021

KEY INFO: The author grew up in the energy industry in the 80s in Mindanao and understands the importance of electricity. Despite this, four decades later, not everyone in the Philippines has access to electricity, with Mindanao having the lowest number of homes with access to modern energy services. However, the author sees this as an opportunity for quick scaling up of rural electrification. She is a co-founder of Greenergy Solar PH and they have launched the first commercial solar service provider in Mindanao. It helped indigenous communities have access to clean and sustainable power from solar energy. She mentions that this shows how the technology is accepted and the people are ready to embrace this which is why Mindanao can be the start of achieving clean energy for the country.

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Mindanao is a testbed for clean energy in the Philippines

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The existing limitations in grid infrastructure present no hindrance if plans for Mindanao's energy development deprioritize building utility-scale power plants requiring large transmission towers, and advance instead distributed and decentralized clean energy systems. These better cater to the small pockets of unelectrified communities dotting the landmass.

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Renewable energy, kayang mapababa ang bill ng kuryente? | Stand for Truth (RESEARCHED BY JEZIEL A. HATAGUE)

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=W6-8VfS8EnY

TITLE: Renewable energy, kayang mapababa ang bill ng kuryente? | Stand for Truth

AUTHOR: GMA Public Affairs

DATE PUBLISHED: November 29, 2021

KEY INFO: The Department of Energy (DOE) implemented the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) which aims to increase the country's capacity for renewable energy by three times. Renewable sources such as solar energy have significant changes to household's electricity bills as it lowers them by at least 12%. Furthermore, DOE introduces the Net Metering Program and Green Energy Program which aims to emphasize the importance of renewable sources and aids people in utilizing solar energy cost-efficiently.

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Renewable energy, kayang mapababa ang bill ng kuryente? | Stand for Truth

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A long road for renewable energy in Mindanao (RESEARCHED BY: LADY DEANELLE EVE S. DE GUZMAN)

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URL:
https://www.pids.gov.ph/details/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 has undergone significant changes in its energy landscape. Historically, it was powered mainly by hydropower plants, but as the island's economy grew, so did its power demand, leading to a crisis from 2013 to 2014. Currently, the island's power mix consists of coal energy generating power for 51%(2,263 MW) of the region, followed by hydroelectric power for 26% (1,158.17 MW), oil-based power (771.20 MW) at 17%, geothermal energy for 2% (104.48 MW), solar energy at 2% (79.98 MW), and biomass for 2% (66.30 MW). Furthermore, there is now a push towards a more sustainable energy mix, with the government aiming for a 50-50 split between renewable and non-renewable energy sources by 2030. Mindanao has a growing annual power demand, offering opportunities for power investors, especially in the renewable energy sector.

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Local firm promotes renewable energy in Mindanao for 13 years (RESEARCHED BY: LADY DEANELLE EVE S. DE GUZMAN)

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URL: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1147627

TITLE: Local firm promotes renewable energy in Mindanao for 13 years

AUTHOR: Jigger Jerusalem

DATE PUBLSIHED: July 20, 2021

KEY INFO:
For more than ten long years, a local business called Greenergy Solar has been promoting the use of renewable energy in Mindanao by installing solar panels totaling 2.508 megawatts (MW) to power homes, businesses, streetlights, and even farms. It has installed 10,000 solar panels in 108 houses, 5,737 units of solar street lights illuminating 287 kilometers of streets, supplied a total of 234 horsepower of installed solar water pumps for farms, and irrigated a total of 480 hectares of land. This had accumulated a total of P1.3 billion worth of savings for power expenditure and 249,000 metric tons of avoided carbon emissions. The company is run by Mindanaoans which proves how the goals for clean and sustainable energy is highly attainable in the region.

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Regreening Mindanao grid (RESEARCHED BY: MARIAN RIJEL T. ALCANTARA)

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14) Non-Government Organization or Academic Institution

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14) Non-Government Organization or Academic Institution

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URL: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1698281/regreening-mindanao-grid

AUTHOR: Germelina Lacorte

DATE PUBLISHED: November 27, 2022

KEY INFO: The Ateneo de Davao University took the initiative to build and implement a solar power facility for the electricity needs of its campuses. As stated by the dean of the AdDU School of Engineering and Architecture, how can they convince people to convert to clean energy if they have nothing to show for it? With this, Fr. Joel Tabora, the university president supported projects for solar power starting in 2011 and currently has a Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) facility on its Bangkal campus. Furthermore, the university extends this technology to help devastated communities after being hit by typhoons such as the typhoon "Pablo" victims. They were lent 25 solar panels to light up their communities for 6 months as they recover from the calamity.

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DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines - From the roof deck of the Blue Building of Ateneo de Davao University (Addu), Rene Sanchez of Sultan Kudarat's Lebak town gazed down on the roof of the next building where solar photovoltaic (PV) panels had been installed.

Sanchez, the town agriculturist of Lebak, and others from the local government participating in a renewable energy workshop, took advantage of the remaining light from the setting sun to examine the panels and to consider using solar energy back home.

With a population of over 90,000, Lebak, like neighboring Kalamansig and Palimbang, badly needs a dependable supply of electricity as these towns are not yet connected to the Mindanao grid. A diesel-fueled power plant currently supplies the three towns.

Operated by the Small Power Utilities Group of state-owned National Power Corp. (NPC), the plant runs on a 2022 budget of P55 per liter. But the fuel cost skyrocketed to as high as P90 per liter due to the crisis in Ukraine, contributing to the company's financial strain.

NPC required P1.2 billion in additional resources for this year in order to provide an uninterrupted power supply to off-grid areas throughout the country. Before a government subsidy was worked out, a financially bleeding NPC was forced to cut back on power generation in August, leading to 12-hour brownouts in Lebak.

Aside from being expensive, diesel fuel, like coal, heavily emits carbon dioxide and contributes to global warming that, in turn, spawns devastating typhoons.

Addu engineers urged workshop participants to consider renewable energy sources, which are clean, cheaper, and more abundant in the long run.

Shifting to clean energy may be best for Mindanao, which had been recently battered by strong typhoons and extreme weather that brought communities flash floods, landslides, and storm surges. Lebak, for one, is still reeling from the destruction wrought by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng (international name: Nalgae) in October, with P116 million in damage to agriculture and crops.

The high cost of fossil fuels also provides a robust financial and economic justification for ramping up the share of renewables in the region's energy mix.

Building a model

The solar panels on the roof of Addu's Finster Hall were among the first that the university installed over a decade ago as it started advocating for renewable energy.

"During that time, the cost was still a problem," recalled Randell Espina, dean of the Addu School of Engineering and Architecture. "But how can we convince people to convert to clean energy if we have nothing to show for it?"

The initiative gained a head start with the support of Fr. Joel Tabora, then university president. Addu mounted its first set of 48 solar panels in 2011. Later, it installed another set on two of its campuses so that today, the university has more than 2,582 panels on its three campuses. Together, they have a total capacity of 1 megawatt, supplementing the electricity the university takes from the grid.

Since then, solar 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 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.

Addu engineers continue exploring other sources of renewable energy. They literally climb mountains and brave oceans to study the potentials of wind, hydro, tidal, ocean waves, and biomass technology to produce energy, according to Nelson Enano, director of the Addu Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies.

They did not stop with the solar panels. Addu engineers are also exploring the sun's other power - heat.

Addu hosts within its Bangkal campus its concentrated solar power (CSP) facility, whose parabolic dish is quite a sight to see. Unlike PV cells which convert light to energy in a solar panel, CSP uses mirrors to focus sunlight on a receiver which produces thermal energy to create steam that spins a turbine generator, producing electricity.

The CSP research, along with ocean renewable energies, is being pursued with the Mindanao Renewable R&D Energy Center (MREC), which is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). MREC is an Addu-led consortium of universities and colleges in Mindanao focused on the research and development of renewable energies.

The desire to understand renewable energy technologies and make them available and more affordable to local communities prompted the study, Espina said.

Local expertise

Espina, who has a doctorate in energy systems engineering, said the country could only achieve an energy-secure future by making and using these renewable energy technologies locally.

"When we started with the solar panels, we realized that the technology is already there, we can buy it, but it's not locally available (because we're not producing it) and we're not ready," he said.

"What we really need are experts and technical know-how. Unless we can come up with an army of experts and technical people to focus on this, nothing will happen to us," he added.

Producing these experts was the rationale for the university's doctorate program on Energy Systems Engineering and its Master in Renewable Energy Engineering, which are the first in the country, according to Espina.

One project proposed for funding through MREC was the production of PV cells, he said.

"Our plan was to localize the solar cell technology," he said. "The advantage of localization is we can customize the size and we can decide for ourselves and tailor it to our needs. We are no longer dependent on what is available in the market."

But the proposal was not approved by the DOST, so Addu focused on CSP and ocean renewable energies.

"What's good about having the CSP laboratory is you will get to know the technology, how it works and what are its limitations, and if it works in our setting and if not, what solutions and adjustments to make," Espina said.

Reversing trend

The success of these efforts will help wean Mindanao, if not the country, away from dirty energy, the impact of which haunts it back through extreme weather events.The Philippines' per capita greenhouse gas emission is lower than the global and Southeast Asian averages, but it is one of the most vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and the other effects of climate change.

About a year after Addu installed its first solar panels, Typhoon "Pablo" (international name: Bopha) slammed into Mindanao on Dec. 4, 2012, packing 280 kilometer per hour winds.It caused widespread devastation and power outages on a large swath of Mindanao, killing 1,900 people and displacing thousands in a part of the country rarely visited by typhoons.

That time, Espina informed Fr. Tabora that solar panels would be handy in lighting up the devastated communities. The priest asked where they could find these panels.

"I told him, we already installed some on the university rooftop, and to our surprise, he ordered 25 of the solar panels to be taken down and temporarily lent to 25 devastated communities and villages, which had no power and water," Espina recalled.

For six months after the typhoon, the panels lit up these communities, giving hope in the midst of darkness and despair. The panels proved so useful that Addu engineers proposed to the Davao City government to include solar energy in the preparations for calamity response.

Following successive destructive typhoons-Tropical Storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi) in 2011, Typhoon Pablo in 2012 and Supertyphoon "Yolanda" (international name: Haiyan) in 2013-environmentalists warned against the continued use of coal to generate power as it is contributing to global warming.

Despite this warning, coal-fired power plants mushroomed in Mindanao, as encouraged by the government. Some 2,063 MW of coal-fed capacity was added to the grid, from only 200 MW in 2006.

By 2017, the energy mix in the region had been reversed-from reliance on renewables to dependence on fossil fuels, according to Assistant Secretary Romeo Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority deputy executive director.

Montenegro said Mindanao's energy mix is accounted for by 50 percent coal and 20 percent diesel and other fossil fuels, leaving only 30 percent from renewable sources.

"Our energy supply in Mindanao comes from fossils. Why should it matter to us?" he asked. "It matters because the transition to dirty fuels resulted in a 20 to 25 percent increase in Mindanao's electricity rates."

"Now after the pandemic affected our local logistics, and the [conflict] in Ukraine, the price of coal spiked four times," he said. "Let us regreen the Mindanao grid because right now, it is black."
(Editor's Note: Reporting for this story was supported by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities under the Jaime Espina Klima Correspondents Fellowship.)
RELATED STORIES

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(First of two parts) DAVAO CITY, Davao del Sur, Philippines - From the roof deck of the Blue Building of Ateneo de Davao University (Addu), Rene Sanchez of Sultan Kudarat's Lebak town gazed

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‎Start Up Podcast PH: Start Up #5: Hive Energy PH (solar power stations ft. Amiel Camingal) on Apple Podcasts (RESEARCHED BY: MARIAN RIJEL T. ALCANTARA)

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URL: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/start-up-podcast-ph/id1576462394?i=1000533623989

TITLE: Start Up #5: Hive Energy PH (Solar Power Stations ft. Amiel Camingal)

AUTHOR: Start Up Podcast PH

DATE PUBLISHED: August 30, 2021

KEY-INFO: Hive Energy PH, founded by Amiel Camingal, offers solar power stations through its products which aid Filipinos, especially during power interruptions. They can provide power for appliances under 300 watts. An example would be five laptops used together, a household's lighting system, and desktops. This started with his idea of making a "power bank" for his house when they experienced frequent power outages in their community. The company promotes the use and access to solar power, especially in rural areas, and calls for partners and investors for further development.

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Amiel Camingal is the founder of Hive Energy PH, manufacturer of solar power stations providing uninterruptable power supply with clean and sustainable energy.

Amiel is a graduate of BS Electronics Engineering in Bulacan State University. Hive Energy PH was part of the New Energy Nexus Clean Energy Startup Program and was also featured in Bayan Mo, Ipatrol Mo for providing electricity to underserved communities.

We talk about the problem of power interruptions in the Philippines, renewable energy, climate change, and especially Hive Energy PH's products, stories, and technologies.

Learn more about Hive Energy PH at: https://www.facebook.com/hiveenergyph.

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start up #5: hive energy ph (solar power stations ft. amiel camingal)

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‎Start Up Podcast PH: Start Up #5: Hive Energy PH (solar power stations ft. Amiel Camingal) on Apple Podcasts

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Amiel Camingal is the founder of Hive Energy PH, manufacturer of solar power stations providing uninterruptable power supply with clean and sustainable energy. Amiel is a graduate of BS Electronics Engineering in Bulacan State University. Hive Energy PH was part of the New Energy Nexus Clean Energy...

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CBRED: The Story of Renewable Energy in the Philippines (RESEARCHED BY: EMMANUEL SOLA III)

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URL: https://youtu.be/f59THmrKtjY

TITLE: CBRED: The Story of Renewable Energy in the Philippines

PRODUCED BY:  Department of Energy

DATE PUBLISHED: May 8, 2015

KEY INFO: There have been things and projects being done throughout the country to have more supply of renewable energy and awareness for it, such as the Solar Powered Energy plant in Cagayan de Oro. Aside from this, Sun Power Philippines seeks to promote he use of solar energy in residential and commercial areas. In line with this, they envision the availability and ease access to renewable energy in the country and the world to bring a revolutionary change in the lives of people.

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CBRED: The Story of Renewable Energy in the Philippines

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Lighting up lives in the Philippines | Mark Lozano | TEDxUPV (RESEARCHED BY: EMMANUEL SOLA III)

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URL: https://youtu.be/zegWEUPhhKQ

TITLE: Lighting Up Lives in the Philippines | Mark Lozano | TEDxUPV

SPEAKER: Mark Lozano

DATE PUBLISHED: June 16, 2020

KEY INFO: Mark Lozano, co-founder of One Million Lights Philippines which is a nationally-awarded youth-led organization, shares about how the youth can take part in addressing major societal problems such as in renewable energy. The organization has improved the lives of over 70,000 Filipinos from 80 marginalized off-grid communities nationwide by providing them with clean, safe and affordable solar powered lights. They started from the goal of improving other people’s lives by providing them access to electricity to increase productivity and quality of life as a whole.

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Lighting up lives in the Philippines | Mark Lozano | TEDxUPV

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Small Scale Renewable Energy Systems: Independent Electricity For Community, Business and Home (RESEARCHED BY: GILLIANA ADRIENNE C. PANGILAN)

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URL: https://books.google.com.ph/books?id=CfK2DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT26&dq=solar+mindanao&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj4yI__xob9AhVds1YBHXYeCgcQ6AF6BAgIEAI#v=onepage&q=solar%20mindanao&f=false
(Chapter 2.1.10)

TITLE: Small-Scale Renewable Energy Systems: Independent Electricity for Community, Business and Home.

AUTHOR: Sven Ruin, Göran Sidén

DATE PUBLISHED: 2020

KEY INFO:
The book’s 2nd chapter explores the concept of solar power, its mechanisms, the availability, efficacy and reliability of solar power as an alternative. Specifically, chapter 2.1.10 highlights the unreliability of power lines in rural areas that cause a lack of electricity. Furthermore, SPOTS (The Solar Power Technology Support) was implemented in Mindanao as a means to show the lower investment but high efficacy of solar power as an alternative. This project reached 114 villages in the region and aided in the productivity of agriculture and industries.

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Hybrid Solar Energy System as Alternative Power Supply in Mindanao State University-Sulu: Impact on Quality Services (RESEARCHED BY: GILLIANA PANGILAN)

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URL/SOURCE: http://journalsocialsciences.com/index.php/oaijss/article/view/63

TITLE: Hybrid Solar Energy System as Alternative Power Supply in Mindanao State University-Sulu: Impact on Quality Services

AUTHOR: Maryjoy A. Busaña

DATE PUBLISHED:  2021

KEY INFO:
The use of hybrid solar energy system as an alternative power supply has an impact to the quality service of Mindanao State University-Sulu, thus, both teaching and non-teaching personnel preferred the use of Hybrid solar energy system over traditional electricity. The extent of benefits of hybrid solar power in term costs is feasible for the costs of its installation will be treated as an investment for its 5 or more years of use of its naturally free electric power supply.

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Hybrid Solar Energy System as Alternative Power Supply in Mindanao State University-Sulu: Impact on Quality Services | Open Access Indonesia Journal of Social Sciences

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To ascertain the hybrid solar energy system as alternative power supply in Mindanao State University-Sulu and its  impact to quality service, This study aims to investigate the extent of benefits of hybrid solar power in terms of a) cost, b) availability, and c.)sustainability, moreover, it als…

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Solar Tapestry (RESEARCHED BY: GILLIANA ADRIENNE C. PANGILAN)

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URL: https://artistsandclimatechange.com/2019/08/22/solar-tapestry/

TITLE: Solar Tapestry

AUTHOR: Joan Sullivan

DATE PUBLISHED: August 22, 2019

KEY INFO:
The Art & Energy Collective aims to "re-imagine solar technology as an art material for the future” by incorporating solar power systems to artworks. This project does not only help address issues on renewable energy but also serves as motivation or a start for more sustainable innovations. This correlates to SDG 7 and the research topic as they promote access to solar energy through different avenues and encourage people to use the technology.