Manila: The Philippine government is looking at increasing the contribution of renewable energy sources to the country's power mix.
President Benigno Aquino III, speaking at the 1st Philippine BioEnergy Conference in Manila, said renewable energy has always been a key consideration towards achieving the vision of a greener and more vibrant Philippines.
"Working together, we can make the year brighter for many Filipinos, and for many people around the world. With your help, we can have more houses capable of switching on lights to welcome each New Year. With more emphasis on renewable energy resources, we can even make our own small contribution to addressing the massive problem that is climate change," the President said.
The president said nearly 39 per cent of the country's energy requirements are being sourced out through renewable sources such as hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, and biomass.
According to government estimates, energy from biomass will figure prominently in the country's energy future.
Biomass is energy derived from living organisms such as dead trees, corn, sugarcane, animal wastes and the like. Technological advancements however, now allow the production of fuel from biological sources such as left-over vegetable oils and animal fat.
According to the Department of Energy, the biomass sector's contribution will increase from the current 39 megawatts of energy in 2010 to more than 300 megawatts by 2015.
Aside from providing fuel, biomass production also provide jobs.
The president said that an increase in the country's biofuel requirement will translate to 89 thousand more jobs for the people apart from the stimulation of local economies that would create even more economic opportunities.
"Our projections also indicate that, in achieving this goal (biomass sector's increase), around 89,000 more jobs will be generated for Filipinos. These of course have a multiplier effect, because citizens with sources of income become empowered consumers, who can stimulate local economies and create even more jobs," Aquino said.
Additional income
"The effects of advancing the biomass sector will also reach close to 577,000 farm families who can benefit, for example, by gaining additional income through the sale of agri-waste or forest residues that can be used in the development of biomass resources," he added.
While the government is views the use of biomass for energy positively, environmental groups frown on the prospect of using land resources better left for planting food.
Based on the government's renewable energy plans, farms will be used, not just for planting food, but for producing crops such as corn and sugarcane, which could be converted to fuel for internal combustion engines such as those that run on petrol and diesel.
Internal combustion engines produces environmentally-damaging carbon emissions.
