Solar power and ‘bayanihan’ can solve PHL power crisis, says scientist

In an interview with Howie Severino on GMA’s News to Go, Engineer Roberto Verzola outlined his plans for an alternative solution to the government’s proposed Interruptible Load Program (ILP).

 

Under the ILP, large establishments will make use of their own generators during peak hours to lessen the demand for energy. However, according to Verzola, the ILP will cost PHP 450 million and it will be up to the citizens to shoulder the expenses.

 

Verzola is an environmentalist and he has just finished writing a book on renewable energy in the Philippines.

 

“I’m sure naghahanda yung gobyerno, pero mahirap din talagang pangunahan yung mga pangyayari,” Verzola said, adding that sometimes the government over- or underestimates their projections.

 

 

According to Verzola, proposed government solutions are usually supply-oriented, in that they focus on the sources of energy in order to address the looming power crisis. One alternative source of power is renewable energy, but there is still skepticism about its feasibility.

 

Alternative solution

 

However, Verzola offers an alternative solution, one that focuses on demand rather than on supply. He proposes that a real-time line graph showing the aggregated electricity demand and the remaining available supply be shown on TV. That way, the public can see as the graph approaches the limit of the available power and in response, they can turn off non-essential things around their house.

 

The idea is that even though one light bulb turned off is no big deal, if everybody across the country does the same thing, the resulting drop in demand is enough to avoid a blackout. Instant feedback is available as viewers can see the line representing demand drop back down.

 

Verzola believes that the public would be willing to go along with the program because they’re going to be the ones who’ll need to support the expenses for the IPL.

 

A greener energy system

 

Verzola believes that the government needs to invest and take risks to gradually shift the Philippines into using renewable energy more than traditional sources of power. This can be done by creating the proper government policies and providing financing for renewable energy projects.

 

Aside from being clean sources of energy, renewable sources of energy will also mean lower costs. “Babagsak ang presyo ng enerhiya ‘pag lumaganap lalo na ang solar at wind na teknolohiya,” Verzola said. This is already happening in many countries that have made the move to renewable energy.

 

Solar energy is now the cheapest source of electricity—assuming that you have a solar rooftop installed on your home, you’d only be spending PhP 9 per kWh. In comparison, electricity from burning coal ranges from PhP 11-11.50 per kWh. In addition, any electricity generated by solar panels will go back into the grid, which means that it will serve as your “credit.” If for some reason you can’t use your solar panels—like when it’s raining or it’s nighttime—the electricity you get from the grid will be deducted from the electricity you generated.

 

The only problem is, according to Verzola, that you have to spend upfront and pay for the installation of the solar panels right away. However, you’ll be saving money in the long run. And this is why we need financing.

 

“Kuung ang gobyerno, media, at ang publiko ay magtutulong-tulong, di natin kailangan ang solusyon ngayon na 450 million interruptible load program na sa atin sisingilin,” Verzola said. — Bea Montenegro/TJD, GMA News