Press Release
September 21, 2010

ANGARA PUSHES FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

Senator Edgardo J. Angara is pushing for the swift establishment of the Renewable Energy Research and Development Institute (RERDI), which will expand the Renewable Energy industry of the country.

Angara, Chair of the Congressional Commission on Science Technology and Engineering (COMSTE), has pointed out that PHP100 Million has been allocated from the 2009 budget of the DOST for the creation of RERDI.

"Developing innovative Renewable Energy Systems can aid in achieving the long term goal of energy independence. With RERDI, we can fully utilize Public Private Partnerships and stimulate growth in the RE power sector," said Angara.

COMSTE reports that initial experiments in the country and worldwide demonstrate that the use of algae as a biofuel has high potential, and it can also be used as a carbon capture mechanism when coupled with coal-fired plants. A team composed of members from Ateneo University, Alson Aquacutlure Inc., and two other photo bio-reactor companies aims to study optimal conditions that will promote the growth of algae and the cleaning of coal fired plants by placing nearby aquaculture ponds.

Another project selected by COMSTE is a solar cooling assessment, development and demonstration program by the Philippine Green Building Council (PHILGBC)/Institute of Industrial Electrical Engineers/ the De La Salle University. This project aims to retrofit old government buildings with RE systems, specifically solar cooling, which would demonstrate the effective application of RE in the local setting.

Other projects identified as priority areas for RERDI are solar photo-voltaic systems, wind power, hybrid RE systems, alternative fuels from solid residue, biodiesel production and development, gasohol related process development, and materials development for energy application. The COMSTE Energy and Environment panel is composed of experts and executives in Energy and is Chaired by former DOE secretary Francisco Viray with members Nereus Acosta, Alvin Culaba, Antonio La Vina, Jose Maria Zabaleta and Federico Puno.

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