Mindanaoans target 50% renewable energy by 2030

OVER 300 leaders representing Mindanao power stakeholders agree to push the renewable energy share  in the power mix to 50 percent by 2030.

Advocates in Mindanao even seek to achieve equality between renewable energy and fossil fuels in the region’s power mix, a decade ahead of the national targets.

This push is fueled by the abundance of hydro power, solar energy, biomass, and wind power resources in the area.

Renewable energy (RE) has proven to be a dependable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective energy source, particularly for rural communities.

The National Renewable Energy Program has established a goal of reaching a 50:50 renewable energy and fossil fuel ratio by 2040.

Despite abundant renewable energy resources, Mindanao lags in terms of electrification, with only around 87% electrification rate, compared to electrification rates in  Luzon with 98% and Visayas 97%. Worse, hydro power rich BARMM has an electrification rate of below 50%.

According to Roberto Calingo, Executive Director of the Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF), lack of access to power is a social problem. 

“Areas with low access to electricity are poorer, and people have less access to basic services like health and education,” said Calingo, of the PEF, which created the Mindanao Renewable Energy Acceleration and Coordination Hub (Mindanao REACH) in partnership with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Ateneo de Davao University-Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center (AdDU-MREC) last year.

Undersecretary Janet Lopoz, executive director of MinDA, said, “Our target is to achieve 50% renewable energy, and for a while, we are now standing at 31.57% in renewable energy capacity at present here in Mindanao. By setting an ambitious target of achieving 50% RE mix by 2030 here in Mindanao, we are not only demonstrating our commitment [in] mitigating climate change but also unlocking new opportunities for the communities and families in Mindanao.” 

Energy Regulatory Commission chairperson and CEO Atty. Monalisa Dimalanta affirmed that renewable energy has been the bedrock of the energy industry. 

“Renewable energy should be at the core of energy planning, which is happening now. The 50 percent target is realistic,” she said. 

According to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP), as of October 2023, the share of renewable energy in Mindanao’s power mix is already at 39 percent.

“How to sustain this is, however, a challenge as the island needs more renewable energy generation capacity. Key to sustaining this gain and achieving the 50:50 by 2030 target is to increase renewable energy baseload generation capacity, which would entail the full rehabilitation of the fast-depreciating Agus and Pulangi Hydro- Electric plants and the building of more renewable energy power plants using solar, wind, and biomass, and promoting rooftop solar photo-voltaic systems,” said BenCyrus G. Ellorin, consultant of Mindanao REACH.

Charlie Ayco, president of the Center for Empowerment, Innovation, and Training on Renewable Energy (CentRE), stressed that the whole energy industry is changing. Power generation used to be site-specific. But because of technology, miniature power plants on our roofs through solar rooftops are feasible. 

“The cheapest electricity is when you produce your electricity. This is democratizing the energy industry,” he said.

The 1st Mindanao Clean Energy Forum and 6th Renewable Energy Congress was organized by Mindanao REACH, MinDA, AdDU-MREC, and CentRE in Davao City last Nov. 20 – 21.

“This collaboration provides a unique platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas, strategies, and best practices. By fostering these collaborations, we are enhancing our collective knowledge and fostering a sense of unity in our pursuit of a 50% renewable energy mix by 2030,” Mindanao REACH Project Coordinator Migdonio Clamor Jr. said.