Osmeña: Alternative energy in the Philippines

[Karl]

Sun.Star Cebu – Wednesday July 23, 2008

By Antonio V. Osmeña

The amount and types of useful energy available shape not only individual lifestyles but also national and world economic systems. Since the 1973 oil embargo, there have been major efforts to gather such information to help nations develop a long-term energy strategy. Projections about the future are always controversial. Obviously, our country’s political leaders have failed to evaluate the information available and use it to implement short-, intermediate- and long-term energy plans, which can be updated and revised as new information becomes available. In trying to determine which mix of energy alternatives might provide primary energy for the future, we must think and plan in three time frames that cover the 50-year period normally needed to develop and phase in new energy sources: the short term (2008-2018), the intermediate term (2018-2028), and the long term (2028-2058). The first step is to decide how much of what kind of primary energy—such as low-temperature heat, high temperature heat, electricity, and liquid fuels for transportation—are needed. Then we project the mix of energy alternatives—including improving energy efficiency —that can provide the necessary energy services at the lowest lifetime cost and with acceptable environmental impacts.

Using any form of energy or non-renewable metal or mineral resource has harmful impacts on the environment. The faster the rate of energy use or flow, the greater the impact. This is why energy use is directly and indirectly responsible for most land disruption, water pollution and air pollution. For example, nearly 80% of US air pollution is caused by fuel combustion in cars, furnaces, industries and power plants. Choosing any energy option or mix of options involves making choices and trade-offs between benefits and several potential environmental impacts. The problem is to choose an option that provides the least environmental damage at an acceptable price, assuming that all other factors are equal.

Petrochemical products, such as industrial chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, plastics, synthetic fibers and medicine can now be produced from the fermentation of plants (biomass) instead of using crude oil. The price of using non-renewable energy—such as conventional and unconventional oil, conventional and unconventional natural gas and coal—will rise catastrophically and will trigger a global economic depression, as well as intensify international tensions as nations compete for available supplies. In fact, the price of coal has started to rise, which would directly affect the rates charged by coal-fired electric power plants.

It is time for the government’s energy policy to prioritize the development of renewable energy resources. Today, the renewable energy technology is well developed, fairly simple and quickly installed. There is a need for the government to favor using solar cells primarily to produce electricity in large, centralized power plants and commercial installation. This approach is being pushed by oil companies, which own most solar cell companies. But when this happens, utilities would go bankrupt as many people begin producing their own power and coal power plants would no longer produce revenues. If all the projected uses of solar cell technologies take place, they could be providing 20% to 30% of the world’s electricity by 2050. Given widespread use, no new large-scale power plants of any type would have to be built, and many existing plants, coal and other types, could be phased out.

The Worldwatch Institute estimate that a combination of wind farms and smaller wind machines that occupy 0.5% of the world’s land could provide 20% to 30% of the electricity needs of many countries and about 12% of the world’s electricity. Wind experts estimate that with a vigorous development program, wind energy could provide 15% to 20% of the projected demand for electricity in the Philippines.

On the other hand, biomass fuel is organic matter that can be burned directly as fuel or converted to a more convenient gaseous or liquid form known as biofuel by processes, such as fermentation and pyrolysis (heating in the absence of air). Plants, organic wastes, and other forms of solid biomass can be converted by bacteria and other various chemical processes.

Source: Sun.Star Cebu - Osmeña: Alternative energy