Gatchalian bats for renewable energy in PH amid COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic is leading to reduction in fossil fuel consumption, Senator Win Gatchalian urged the government to maximize the potential of renewable energy (RE) sources in the country and step up the energy transition.

"Now is the time to give renewable energy sources a boost as recent months have shown an increase in the generation of some power sources such as solar, geothermal, and biomass," the Chairman of the Senate Energy Committee specified.

Gatchalian said he supports the move by the Department of Energy (DOE) to impose a moratorium on coal plants. He, however, stressed that it should be accompanied by regulations encouraging the build out of flexible systems such as energy storage.

The imposition of lockdown in the country saw a drop in coal generation amidst a decrease in demand as operations of industrial facilities and commercial establishments slowed.

According to market research provider S&P Global, major oil companies are diversifying into renewable and low carbon energy in response to the growing concerns over climate change and the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts the world's total renewable-based power capacity to increase by 50 percent between 2019 and 2024.

He said there is a need to initiate the energy transition by cutting the red tape particularly for renewable energy projects and that there is already a mechanism in place that streamlines the permitting process for both foreign and domestic investors.

In a recent budget hearing at the Senate, DOE officials said that the total awarded renewable energy projects reached 1,038 in December 2019 with an equivalent potential capacity of 31,886 megawatts (MW). Existing RE projects based on this have an installed capacity of 5,053 MW with geothermal and hydro having the largest shares with 38% and 22%, respectively.

"The whole world is moving to energy and mobility transition so we need to keep up with the trend of generating power from renewable sources to include emerging technology such as green hydrogen," Gatchalian said.

The senator also underscored the need to have a sound policy and regulatory framework for the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as the country moves toward the promotion of sustainable transportation under the new normal.

The senator is the principal author of Senate Bill No. 1382 or the proposed Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act, which requires dedicated parking slots with charging stations in every public and private building and establishments including gasoline stations. The measure is now up for interpellation and approval on second reading in the Senate.

"Transition to new technologies will generate jobs, which we badly need right now, and attract investments for us to grow globally competitive. We are seeing bright prospects for renewable energy. It is the dawn of the new tomorrow," Gatchalian concluded.

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Isulong ang renewable energy sa gitna ng pandemya - Gatchalian

Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang gobyerno na samantahalin ang potensyal ng renewable energy sa bansa habang patuloy na bumababa ang paggamit ng coal mula nang magkaroon ng pandemya dulot ng Covid-19.

"Ito na ang tamang pagkakataon para itaguyod ang paggamit ng renewable energy dahil napatunayan natin sa mga nakaraang buwan na dumami ang mga gumagamit ng solar, geothermal, at biomass," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Energy Committee.

Suportado ni Gatchalian ang hakbang ng Department of Energy (DOE) na magpataw ng moratorium sa coal at binigyang diin niya ang kahalagahan ng mga regulasyon para dito.

Bumaba ang paggamit ng enerhiya mula sa uling magmula noong ipatupad ang lockdown sa bansa kasunod ng huminang paggamit ng langis bunsod ng epekto ng COVID-19.

Batay sa pag-aaral ng S&P Global, isang market research provider, dumadami na ang bilang ng mga kumpanya ng langis na lumilipat na o dumadaan sa tinatawag na 'energy transition' at gumagamit na ng renewable energy dahil sa isyu ng climate change. Lalaki pa ang kapasidad nito ng 50 porsiyento mula 2019 hanggang 2024 ayon sa International Energy Agency (IEA).

Kinalampag ni Gatchalian ang mga tanggapan ng goyerno na puksain ang red tape upang mapabilis ang pagsasakatuparan ng pagtangkilik sa renewable energy at makahikayat pa ng mas maraming mamumuhunan sa renewable energy projects sa bansa. Aniya, may mga sapat nang mekanismo na magpapabilis sa proseso sa mga gustong mamuhunan dito.

Ayon sa mga opisyal ng DOE, umabot na sa 1,038 ang bilang ng renewable energy projects na aprubado na at may kapasidad na 31,886 megawatts (MW).

"Halos buong mundo ay lumilipat na sa renewable energy at kailangan nating makipagsabayan para na rin sa mga makabagong teknolohiya," ani Gatchalian.

Binigay halimbawa niya ang pagsusulong sa tinatawag na sustainable transportation tulad ng electric vehicles (EVs).

Si Gatchalian ang pangunahing may akda ng Senate Bill 1382 o ang panukalang Electric Vehicles and Charging Stations Act na naglalayong maglagay ng charging stations sa lahat ng parking lots sa mga pampubliko at pribadong gusali at istraktura kabilang na ang mga gasolinahan.

"Napapanahon na para paigtingin natin ang kampaya para sa mga pagbabagong ito nang sa gayon ay makapanghikayat pa ng mas maraming mamumuhunan at higit sa lahat makatulong sa mga kababayan nating nawalan ng trabaho sa panahon ng pandemya," ani Gatchalian.

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