Coal-based energy enough for RE transition
THE Philippines has enough energy generated from coal to prevent power outages and help the country transition to renewable energy (RE), the chief of the Department of Energy (DoE) said.
During an energy forum titled “Power Summit 2024, Energy and Power Security and Affordability: Moving the Economy Forward” and sponsored by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the country’s existing coal-based power plants should be maximized instead of building new ones.
“We do not set aside our responsibility to ensure adequate baseload capacities in conjunction with our push to increase RE share in the power mix,” Lotilla said.
“We are prepared for the various scenarios of the energy transition and the relatively young age of these coal plants help ensure that we will have enough baseload capacity through to 2030,” he added.
In his presentation, Lotilla said there were 38 coal-fired power plants that were less than 10 years old with 6,300 megawatts (MW) of dependable capacity.
He added that these plants could be relied on to operate for at least another 30 years.
There are 21 more coal-fired power plants with over 4,700 MW of dependable capacity that are 10 and 30 years old and can still operate for another 10 years.
Lotilla said that as the country transitions to RE, various energy sources, including traditional ones, should be utilized to attain energy security.
“Maximizing the use of existing energy infrastructure avoids placing an added cost burden on both the economy and consumers. The diversification of electricity sources, particularly indigenous ones, will be key to increasing energy security in the country,” he added.