This is about emerging renewable energy development in the Philippines. In Southeast Asia, Philippines has emerged to be one of the leaders. Huge investments have been made into solar and wind energy.
Sec. Garin of DOE said yes. A popular curious senator was saying probably not. The oil deregulation law does not say anything about the issue. The law simply deregulated the industry and this post wonders if there was an IRR. How could legislators at the time of FVR had not be diligent about this. Favoring businessmen while at the same time protecting the citizens.
We thought that with the RE law and much fanfare about EV PHL has weaned itself from dependence on oil and other fossil fuel. In an interview with a USec (DOE) he revealed that could have been avoided. As early as 2011, their group proposed EVs all through out the government: vehicles for public transport and solar for rooftops. That was 15 years ago.
Maybe their proposal on deaf ears and the tranport group actively resisted modernization what wiht their transport disruption, strikes. Had this mindset changed then and we are now EVs, we would not be panicking this much with P125.00 next week P150.00 diesel prices
He said that there are 26 brands of EV in China and they are much cheaper than ICE. Now everybody is scrambling for EVs.
Grap drivers used to earn P1,500 to P2,000 per day. Now they can do only P500.00 per day. We shot our feet with the delay in EV RE implementation. Most of our powerplants are coal. We even rejected nuclear. But that is clean energy in terms of CO2 emission. SK is nuclear. Most of Germany was nuclear and Premier Merkel who as physicist favored it, but nuked the same as a population made the cost of power in GErmany so high that many manufacturers are leaving Germany as base
PHL is now a key supplier of nickel (from Visayas and Palawan) and a key component of batteries. Rare earth minerals (largely controlled by China) makes Western countries hostage to CPP whims. But the ability of PHL to supply critical minerals can upset the geopolitics
In the age where there is a battle between ICE, EVs and fuel cells (fueled by Hydrogen). But hydrogen from electrolysis is expensive. This find is higher than 200 tons found in Albania (for an area less than 2,000 sm) Their find yields 800 tons per year. This will be a groundbreaker for Philippines energy situation. And possibly GDP GDP/capita
The RE law has encouraged many proponents to be interested in Philippines. We hope we can have them interested. The amount they say is all ready into trillion.
The largest solar farm: in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental.
Musk is not content with being left behind in the dusk by Chinese counterpart. They came out with 4680 battery that can be good for million miles and pricing of just under $15,000.!!!! Can you beat that. Now that is competition
That attitude of not giving up and trying hard to beat competition is characteristic of Musk mindset and leadership
Its nice to know that some people cashed in solar and are billionaires. However, we have been hearing negatives about this and its good we did not go full time into this. (Although we had some installations)
1. It could be damaged by typhoon and stones thrown at rooftop especially in the province
2. Degradation over time 10% annually (you lose its effectivity in 10 years or less)
3. Fires
4. Difficulty with selling to the grid, esp to Meralco
A business broker communicated with me and offered a power plant in island province where there is a frequent rotating brown out. and said am interested. However he said it could have been sold and offered another one at La Union. However when I asked for cost to produce (LCOE) and current purchase price at WESM he demurred and said it has to be subject to NDA. And probably the seller would know the numbers.
The deal would be P80M for the just the permits and total project cost would be a billion, It is about 2Mw of power. At P500M per megawatt. A little bit high. And so probably he just swing the deal to another one who could take the risk
We made a trip to the north to visit two or our sites in Region 1 province. On the side we had an agent of a construction company, and solar energy evaluate future sitesfor RE.
1. Solar farm - there were 3 sites: and they are all near the urban areas and near the grid.
We saw a solar farm being constructecd by Megawide at Sta Baarbara and indeed it was about a km
from the NGCP
The two other sities were near Zambales, and the other one was near grid rieally in a fmaous town
\ being linked to Pogo. It was about 60 hectares, priced at low 3 numbers
The other one was available for lease at only P30.00/sm Wow
2. Existing solar farm for sale. In a pilgrim town
3. Opprtunity for hydro, tie up with cooperative. They are looking for financier contractor for mini hydro They will buy the power to be generated
EVs have all ready invaded Philippines. Beginning with E bikes. Manhy Ebikes cost only over P10, 000 and have been nuisance in MM highways.
BYD, Geely, mostly Chinese brands are all ready here. Tesla has put up its office at BGC.
But wait, the problem with EV is range. And there is what youo call range anxiety. The farthest many EVs can go is 600 km. The problem is in existence of charger infrastructure. Hence BYD has invented the C6 super charger. ie that it can fully charge your battery for full charge for only 10 minutes.
BYD has also come out with land water craft. This willl put to shame 4x4: TLC, Glenwagen, adn Range Rover.
We wait before we buy the right EV. ICE will be out by 2030?
Three weeks ago we were on a trip to Pangasinan. Out of nowhere our contact said 100 has was available for solar farm in the City we were in Pangasian. This could e acquired cheap and they have the papers ready. They have papers for sities in Bugallon, Sta Barbara and San Carlos.
Since the potential investment is P3.74 trillion, there is a lot of demand for land. We could do a landbanking and flip?
We were informed that there are following available land: flat near grid. It could be sales or lease.
Sual - 60 hectares
San Carlos 100 hectares
Dasol. - unknown yet (but we have the maps)
So far we can match this to two RE companies.
While people are busy following the new telenovela at the legislature, we help solve the problems and try to earn some money.
This is a remarkable jump in energy program of DOE as of the end of 2023.
BOI has given green lane certifcates to 114 RE projects worth $66.56 billion or P3.74 trillion in php. further increasing foreign direct investment in the Philippines.
Manila: The Philippines is making significant strides in promoting renewable energy and attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) in the sector.
The Board of Investments (BOI) has so far granted “green lane certificates” to 114 renewable energy projects valued at 3.74 trillion pesos ($66.56 billion), according to the state investment promotion agency.
For example, due to the green lane certifications, Aboitiz-led PV Sinag Power, Inc. has kicked off operations of the 94.717 megawatt-power Cayanga-Bugallon Solar Power Project in Panagasinan.
An acquaintance who is a pastor doing evangelical work at Eastern Quezon mentioned a need for power supply for far flung areas. This post took this as electrification of far flung areas. (Later I found out that this was power supply for the AV equipment in their evangelical work)
Some of the micro hydro projects are:
1. DIY using recycled alternators from cars and obtained from junk shops. Some of the hydro are from dams and others are simply piped in from tanks or cisterns from atop mountains.
2. More sophisticated system like the Turbulent made in Belgium. They have partnered with PNOC; Philippines is one of the ten places where they have projects. Costs $4,000/kW and power costs at about 2 cents per kwh. Thats about P5.000 or about 50% less than Meralco power rates.
This is 50% cheaper than solar, although this 24/7 system.
This is worth looking into as about 1/8 of the areas in the Philippines (and teh world) are not yet energized. We also have plenty of rivers, streams and mountains
There were water powered internal combustion engines before which included Alen Mayer and our own Dingle. They mysteriously died or their inventionrs mysteriously disappeared . There were allegations that fuel companies conspired that they be not launched and recognized as business will be taken away fromm them.
Now the growing scarcity of fossil fuel and the need to remove carbon from atmosphere (which lead to climate change) have provoked research into alternative energy sources:
1. Electric vehicles - But experts figured out that the production of batteries generated at least 12,000 kg of carbon from extraction to processing. The cars also has dangers as Li has been known to burn and cause fires. There is problem with charging infrastructures, and problem with range. Many EV owners are returning to ICE cars
2. Hydrogen - flammable and problem in handling and logistics. You need heavy duty tanks and the hydrogen infrastructures are few and would be expensive to produce. Toyota has done research into this
3. Now comes water powered ICE cars. The car is loaded with water and hydrolosis of water into hydrogen and oxygen is done int the car. There would still be battery for hydrolysis (coming from solar panels). There is no need for separate hydrolosis and storage. This will need for redesign of engines. Toyota is into this and probably all EVs manufacturer will shift into this engine/technology.
Experts predict that this will be wave of the future for vechicle technology. Fossil fuel will be rserved for heavy industries and heavy transport lessening pollution and conserving fossil fuel.
