LGUs urged: consider micro-grids

THE Philippines has great potential for microgrid developments, as it strengthens its electrification program.

Roger Chua of Lives (Lux Illumina Verde Energy Solutions) said they are encouraging local government units (LGUs) to consider the viability of micro-grid systems to accelerate electrification, especially in off-grid islands.

A micro-grid is a smallscale power grid that can operate independently or collaboratively with other small power grids.

Unlike in the main grid, where everyone is affected when a problem arises, a micro-grid can operate on its own using local energy generation.

A micro-grid can be powered by distributed generators, batteries, and/or renewable resources like solar panels.

Chua said an archipelagic country like the Philippines that is also regularly visited by typhoons is challenged to provide affordable and reliable energy power to all islands.

He said LGUs could make their areas microgrid powered and sustainable so that even if they aren’t connected to the macro-grid, they’d remain free from power disruptions in cases of major power outages.

Lives aims to promote cost-efficient, high-quality renewable energy technologies to communities.

It organized the first Philippine International Micro-grid Exhibit and Conference, a three-day event recently held last month at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

The event coincided with the Sustainable Energy Ecosystems Conference (Seecon) of the University of San Carlos.

The Philippine government is pushing to achieve 100 percent electrification by 2022.

A report obtained by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate committee on Energy, says there are 2.3 million unserved households that