The Philippines now has 18 biomass power plants able to produce a combined 241 megawatts (MW) of electricity – enough to energize more than 300,000 homes, former Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri said Sunday.
“Fired mainly by bagasse and rice husk, 16 of the biomass energy producers are already dispatching power to the grid, while a couple are under project commissioning and ready to supply the grid,” Zubiri, a strong advocate of renewable energy, said.
The 241-MW installed capacity does not include another 166 MW from biomass power generators installed by private firms for their own consumption of electricity, not for grid use, according to the former senator.
“What is great about biomass fuel from energy stored in agricultural waste is that it always available, adds value to farm crops, and is carbon neutral,” Zubiri said.
He said biomass power producers are providing growers additional income from bagasse, the sugarcane fiber waste left after juice extraction, and rice husk, the shell separated from rice grains during the milling process.
Among all renewable energy sources, Zubiri said biomass is the most labor-intensive since it involves the gathering of farm waste – an activity that tends to benefit low-income households.
“Anything that reduces our dependence on foreign oil for electricity is always most welcome,” he said.
Two of the largest biomass power plants are fired by bagasse and were put up in the “sugar bowl” of Negros Occidental by packaged food and beverage producer Universal Robina Corp. (URC) and diversified sugar manufacturer Victorias Milling Co. Inc. (VMC).
URC’s facility in Kabankalan City has an installed capacity of 46 MW, while VMC’s plant in Victorias City has 34 MW, both for grid use.
The Visayas now has an installed capacity of 136 MW from biomass energy, Luzon has 81 MW, and Mindanao, 24 MW.
The Renewable Energy Law of 2008 authored by Zubiri has accelerated the development of the country’s “green” energy resources and is now driving jobs growth in the countryside.
According to the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, more than 2.9 million jobs — mostly in construction and engineering services — have been created by the boom in wind, solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass power projects.
The Renewable Energy Law — Republic Act 9513 — aims to lessen national dependence on electricity generated from imported and highly pollutive fuel oil and coal.
Under the law, the Energy Regulatory Commission can guarantee fixed rate per kilowatt-hour – the FIT rates – for power producers harnessing renewable energy under the FIT system.
A trust fund also provides grants, loans, equity investments, loan guarantees, insurance, counterpart fund or such other financial arrangements to renewable energy developers.
