THE Philippines has great potential for micro-grid developments, as it strengthens its electrification program.
Roger Chua of Lives (Lux Illumina Verde Energy Solutions) said they are encouraging local government units (LGUs) to consider the viability of micro-grid systems to accelerate electrification, especially in off-grid islands.
A micro-grid is a small-scale power grid that can operate independently or collaboratively with other small power grids.
Unlike in the main grid, where everyone is affected when a problem arises, a micro-grid can operate on its own using local energy generation.
A micro-grid can be powered by distributed generators, batteries, and/or renewable resources like solar panels.
Chua said an archipelagic country like the Philippines that is also regularly visited by typhoons is challenged to provide affordable and reliable energy power to all islands.
He said LGUs could make their areas micro-grid powered and sustainable so that even if they aren’t connected to the macro-grid, they’d remain free from power disruptions in cases of major power outages.
Lives aims to promote cost-efficient, high-quality renewable energy technologies to communities.
It organized the first Philippine International Micro-grid Exhibit and Conference, a three-day event recently held last month at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.
The event coincided with the Sustainable Energy Ecosystems Conference (Seecon) of the University of San Carlos.
The Philippine government is pushing to achieve 100 percent electrification by 2022.
A report obtained by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on Energy, says there are 2.3 million unserved households that are still not connected to the power grid. This translates to 16 percent of households in the entire country.
Majority of this unserved population is in Mindanao with 1.3 million, Luzon with 529,952 households and the Visayas with 524,040 households.
At present, the government is employing three methods in pursuing the total electrification agenda.
The first is through grid extension by electric cooperatives, which is carried out by the National Electrification Administration (NEA). The second is by missionary electrification in off-grid areas, which is being implemented by the National Power Corp. The last method is through the entry of qualified third parties in remote and unviable areas.
According to Chua, the country could take advantage of privately managed micro-grid systems fill the gap.
He noted this system has already been used in some fishing communities in far flung areas of the country.
With the aid of a micro-grid, fisher folk can now store their catch longer through a cold-storage facility, enabling them to improve their livelihood.
“This is helpful, especially during typhoon seasons when they can’t go fishing,” said Chua.
A micro-grid system could supply power to some 150 households, but Chua said the number of households that would be connected is dependent on the distances between houses.
Besides the Philippines, Indonesia also shares the same fate when it comes to providing power.
Both are comprised of island economies that are not directly connected to the main power grid. (KOC)