Following a resolution promulgated by the Inter-Agency Efficiency and Conservation Committee (IAEECC) urging government entities to utilize renewable energy to serve a portion of the power requirements of government-owned buildings, the Department of Energy has given them three years from the effectivity of the resolution to install an initial supply of at least 20 percent of their energy requirements from photovoltaic systems or any equivalent renewable energy technology, based on the highest monthly kilowatt-hour billing demand of the previous years.
Government agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges, and local government units, are encouraged to tap solar energy in particular, to help minimize the country’s exposure to fuel price fluctuations in the international markets.
DOE said the utilization of solar energy is part of the compliance with the Government Energy Management Program, which encourages all government entities to reduce their electricity consumption by at least 10 percent.
The DOE, through its Energy Utilization Management Bureau, will assist government entities in the installation of their PV systems with the necessary technical requirements.
Energy Secretary and IAEECC chairperson Raphael Lotilla said the participation of all government entities in the net metering program would pave the way to the reduction of their monthly electricity consumption.
Net metering allows customers of distribution utilities to install an on-grid renewable energy system not exceeding 100KW in capacity so they can generate electricity for their own use. Excess electricity generated is automatically exported to the grid and the DU provides a peso credit, which can be deducted from the bill.
Government owned buildings that generate RE will not only become more energy efficient and reduce costs, but they also help address demand and reduce emissions by generating their own energy that can even feed excess energy back into the grid, and at the same time increase the share of RE generated in the country, which helps cut earth warming emissions.
The help of everyone who can pitch in to accelerate the country’s much needed transition to renewable energy will be critical if Filipinos are going to contribute in humanity’s effort to fight global warming and climate change. Government buildings taking the lead is a good start.*
