Utilizing the country’s Geographic feature to better use Renewable sources of Energy

By: Jason Rael Villamor

Introduction 

Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands. The nation produced a wide variety of natural resources, from land to marine to mineral, due to its archipelagic nature. The 36,290 km of coastline, the mountainous islands, the plains along the coast, the river systems, and the lakes are just a few of the Philippines' exceptional natural features. Although many of these characteristics may be helpful in converting the nation to a renewable energy source for the majority of the remote islands inhabited by fellow citizens, fossil fuels and oil will continue to be the country's main energy sources. (1)

We can obtain energy from natural sources that are regenerated more quickly than they are used up, which is known as renewable energy. There are several sources of renewable energy all around us, particularly in the Philippines, which has a wealth of natural resources that can be used for renewable energy source. On the other hand, non-renewable fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas require hundreds of millions of years to create. Fossil fuel consumption results in dangerous greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, which keeps the Earth’s protective layer from replenishing. 

Advantages in Geographic feature

A country's geography plays an important role in determining the types of renewable energy sources that can be used in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. The availability of renewable energy depends on the country's access to such sources like wind patterns, bodies of water, etc., which enables the country to transition to a greener and more sustainable energy sources. In recent years, Philippine solar panel slowly rises in popularity as more consumers in the country recognize the advantages of having access to one rather than relying heavily on the traditional oil and coal. (5) 

Additionally, the Philippines has been developing other renewable sources that are abundant in various regions and can be harvested. We have the largest farms for the most abundant source, solar energy, in Cavite, Pampanga, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan de Oro. Pangasinan, Benguet, Laguna, Isabela, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur, Bohol, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Davao del Sur, and Misamis Oriental are areas with hydroelectric potential. Rizal, Guimaras, Aklan, and Ilocos Norte all have wind energy facilities. Additionally, geothermal power plants can be found in the following places: Laguna, Sorsogon, Albay, Batangas, Negros Occidental, Leyte, and North Cotabato. And, because the Philippines is rich in natural resources, such as rice and coconut husks, they are being used instead of fossil fuels, and can be found in Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Rizal, Laguna, Isabela, and Metro Manila. (5)

Transition to Renewable Energy

Switching to the production of renewable energy not only reduces emissions compared to non-renewable energy sources, but it is also already widespread and all around us. Addressing the climate crisis requires searching for a way to reduce the usage of fossil fuels, which are now the main contributors to high emissions. 

The economic growth of the Philippines with a growing population of, people and improved living standards is the main cause of the increase in domestic energy demand of people. As energy demand is continuously increasing over time, the challenges of having a secure and sustainable energy supply will become more crucial, not only because the country is highly dependent on imported energy, which is oil, but also because some of its energy is limited resources. However, if the country will pursue in addressing energy security and sustainability, the use of renewable energy sources could become an option since the Philippines has large and vast amounts of renewable energy resources. (4) 

The application of renewable energy systems in rural electrification holds much promise for improving energy availability in remote energy-deficient areas. However, technology, economy and society are linked to several sustainability challenges that are important to consider. The rural community of Pangan-an Island, as an example, were mostly poor and low-educated users. Fishing as a main source of income did not improve the payment of electricity for people and the maintenance of the said renewable source could be lacking and could lead to some economical problem. (2) Like many of the smaller islands in the Philippine Archipelago, which are not connected to the main grid, the Green islands mainly depends on by generators, and fuel and operating costs was subsidized by a "universal fee". The operator cuts the operating hours to her hours to control fuel costs resulting in having a very limited time of power during the night that have been practiced for a long time. (3) The Philippines has many rural islands, and maintaining an energy source with low income levels can hinder economic growth. Thus, it may take a long time before a decision is made for the Philippines to be sustainable and less dependent on the use of non-renewable energy.

REFERENCES

(1) Brahim, S. P. (2014). Renewable Energy and Energy Security in the Philippines. Energy Procedia, 52, 480–486.

(2) Hong, G. W., & Abe, N. (2012). Sustainability assessment of renewable energy projects for off-grid rural electrification: The Pangan-an Island case in the Philippines. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(1), 54–64.

(3) Roxas, F., & Santiago, A. (2016). Alternative framework for renewable energy planning in the Philippines. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 59, 1396–1404.

(4) Bertheau, P., Dionisio, J., Jütte, C., & Aquino, C. (2020). Challenges for implementing renewable energy in a cooperative-driven off-grid system in the Philippines. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 35, 333–345.

(5) Solenergy Systems Inc.. “Renewable Energy Spots in the Philippines”.