Balanced energy approach urged

A BALANCED approach can address the country’s energy challenges and increase renewable energy utilization, an official of Aboitiz Power Corp. said.

Aboitiz Power President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Rubio said that using all available sources of power, both traditional and renewable, could ensure a continuous supply of electricity and minimize the impact of headwinds that were expected to challenge the Philippine energy sector this year.

He said these challenges included global supply chain uncertainties, the risk of unavailable and insufficient transmission infrastructure, the anticipated effects of El Niño in the country, and electricity consumption projected to increase by 6.6 percent this year.

Also, while several power generating plants have been put up in the past years and renewable energy projects are in the pipeline, there is also a need to increase the Philippines’ base load capacity to ensure a stable, reliable, and affordable power supply around the clock.

In this regard, Rubio also said that conventional energy sources, like thermal plants, still have a crucial role in providing a reliable and stable source of electricity.

He added there is also a need to improve the country’s national electricity transmission grid to accommodate more power generation.

“Finishing long-overdue transmission projects will be very welcome as it can free stranded capacity like that in Mindanao and help support thin margins elsewhere in the country,” Rubio said.

For his part, Aboitiz Power Thermal Business Group President and Chief Operating Officer Celso Caballero 3rd said the country addressing climate change issues should also take into account justice and equity.

“It should be a transition that prioritizes justice and equity, both on a global scale and within individual countries. It must take into consideration the ability of developing countries to power and aid their socioeconomic development,” Caballero said during the Enlit Asia annual power generation conference.

Caballero said that in the Philippines, like in most countries, power supply is disturbed, and fuel prices remain volatile.

“We wrestle to find the right balance in the energy trilemma, which is energy security, equity, and sustainability,” Caballero said.

“However, it’s essential to ensure that no one is left behind in the pursuit of a cleaner, more sustainable energy future that benefits both current and future generations,” he added.