Biomass power can address PHL energy needs – Energy official

The Philippines' power needs can be addressed if the country harnesses energy from biomass resources, which has a potential capacity of 4,450 megawatts (MW) if developed, an official of the Department of Energy said.

This is equivalent to 40 percent of the country's power demand, DoE OIC-Division Chief for Biomass Division Ruby De Guzman told reporters during the Philippine-German Bioenergy Market Development briefing Tuesday.

"Biomass is considered to have a high degree of importance considering the potential benefits that the country can derive through its increased utilization. It can likewise be considered as a solution to the energy challenges of the future," she said.

Last year the department partnered with the US Agency for International Development (USAid) on a project, the Biomass Resource Assessment for Selected Sites in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, to determine the available biomass resource potential of the country.

"Initial results indicate that there is a total potential power generation capacity of 4,450 MW in the Philippines, the bulk of which will be coming from Luzon with 2,094 MW," De Guzman said, noting the number may go down after further review.

Between P100 million to P130 million per MW is needed to build a biomass plant.

The country has robust agricultural and solid waste products than can be used as feedstock for biomass plants which include sugarcane, rice straws, coconut husks, corn cobs, Napier grass, sweet sorghum, bamboo and animal manure, De Guzman said.

Data from the Energy department show a total of 40 biomass renewable energy operating contracts and 24 certificates of registration for own-use as of January 31.

De Guzman said interest in developing more biomass power plants has been increasing as "evidenced by the influx of biomass project applications."

"This just show that the Philippines has strong self-interest in the advancement of clean energy technologies and has the potential to become a role model for other developing nations on account of its broad portfolio of biomass energy resources," she added. — BM, GMA News