DoE wants renewable energy to power new or retrofitted buildings

NEW buildings and establishments that will undergo renovations will soon be required to source a portion of their power requirements from renewable sources.

The Department of Energy ( DoE) is currently updating its guidelines on energy-conserving designs for buildings, which includes a proposed provision that requires the use of renewable technologies to meet at least 1% of the total power demand of new buildings or those being retrofitted or renovated.

Building owners can use solar photovoltaic ( PV) panels, solar- powered water heater and air conditioner, or a combination of other clean power sources “that may fit well and [ be] feasible,” according to DoE-Energy Utilization and Management Bureau Director Patrick T. Aquino.

“In the case of electricity requirement of the building, the 1% can be sourced from the installation of solar PV or the building-owner can opt to secure the 1% from the Green Energy Opt ion Program (GEOP) of the DoE,” the official told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.

The government has been creating programs to allow greater access to clean power. One of these is the GEOP, a voluntary policy mechanism that allows electricity endusers with above 100 kilowatts ( kW) of usage to source their supply from renewable energy developers.

Owners of high-rise buildings, Mr. Aquino said, can choose to contract renewable power through the program, which is a “more feasible and best option to satisfy [ their] requirements.” This is because the buildings’ floor size may not be fit for solar PV installations, which requires a more spacious area.

The regulatory framework for the program is yet to be finished according to the Energy Regulatory Commission. Last month, the agency said its target was to finalize the program’s rules this year so it could be implemented in 2021.

Besides the GEOP, the DoE has also launched the green energy auction and net-metering programs, which are all mandated by the Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act.

Over the next decade, it is hoped that the share of renewable power in the energy mix will rise to 35% from last year’s 21% level.