Bacolod City – The SecuRe Energy Roadmap (Energy Sector Development Strategy and Action Plan) of the Negros Occidental provincial government yesterday got the support of the Department of Energy and stakeholders.
Provincial Consultant on Energy and Environmental Concerns, Rafael Coscolluela, recently presented the roadmap which spells out a comprehensive program in line with the goal of securing Reliable, Renewable, Accessible, Affordable, Available and Sustainable Energy Occidental Negros by 2030 (RRAAASE-ON 2030), during a multi sectoral session with stakeholders at Nature’s Village in Talisay City.
According to Coscolluela, the Energy Development Roadmap of Negros Occidental is a blueprint co-created through extensive consultation with stakeholders over the past months. It embodies the SecuRE Negros goal of making Negros Occidental an energy-secure province.
Energy Undersecretary F.W. “Wimpy” Fuentebella, who spoke at the activity, described the presentation of Coscolluela as “very inspiring,” noting that it was well studied.
“It really inspires us to give more support to his endeavor,” Fuentebella said.
The vision of SecuRe Negros is to make Negros Occidental an energy secure province, with a goal of transforming the energy sector as a Source of Reliable, Renewable, Affordable, Accessible, Available, and Sustainable Energy for the province by 2030.
As of June 2022, Negros Occidental has a total installed renewable energy capacity of 510.10 megawatts, with dependable capacity of 379.9MW. Despite this, according to the study of SecuRe Negros, the province is experiencing power outages and increasing power rates and is not directly consuming its locally generated power.
In order to improve energy security and mitigate climate change impacts, the study recommends provincial government to consider not just working for improvements within the current centralized system, but also to pave the way for building a decentralized power system through a Distributed Energy System (DES), or Distributed Energy Resource (DER) model.
DES or DER models utilize smaller power generation and storage systems to power homes, businesses, and communities, taking advantage of renewable energy sources to produce power.
In line with the envisioned Energy Sector Transformation, aimed towards the attainment of RRAAASE-ON 2030, Coscolluela said the SecuRE Negros Roadmap aims to achieve several objectives, including minimum 35 percent renewable energy share in power generation, mix of the three distribution utilities by 2030, and 100 percent by 2050, with increased utilization of locally produced and embedded renewable energy (DER and Microgrid Systems) and a functional RE market;
Increased share of DER through Expanded Roof Mounted Solar and Net Metering Program, adequate and reliable electricity supply for all consumers, 100 percent electrification in Negros Occidental by 2028, completed Transmission Development Plan for Negros, with Smart and Green Transmission System to accommodate additional RE;
Harmonized LGU Energization Codes, EVOSS systems, and other energy related measures within year 2025, province wide institutionalization of energy efficiency and conservation measures, lower electricity costs through improved DU power procurement programs, strong professional workforce to fill the expected growth in green jobs, and creation of provincial structure for coordination of the Energy Development Program.
In order to ensure effective implementation of courses of action, the study recommended the enactment of a Provincial Energy Code.
The enactment of the Provincial Energy Code, as mandated, will ensure that the campaign for power security and energy sector development is not only institutionalized, but also coordinated and implemented and sustained effectively. It will likewise ensure inclusive participation of industry stakeholders in all matters concerning energy, the study further said.
Governor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming summit, saying that the launch of the Energy Development Roadmap “is a testament to our collective commitment to ensuring power security for the province and staying at the forefront of the renewable energy revolution.”
This roadmap, according to Lacson, “is not just a plan; it is a call to action for all Negrenses to unite and build a future where energy is sustainable, reliable and accessible to all.”
Aside from Gov. Lacson, various stakeholders, including Vice Gov. Jeffrey Ferrer, and representatives of the academe, business groups, non-government and people’s organizations, among others, signed a covenant of commitment to a unified vision of a sustainable and energy secure future for Negros Occidental.
In this light, and recognizing that a decisive transition to renewable energy, accompanied by appropriate transformation of the energy sector, along with other relevant measures and stakeholder involvement, are key strategies that will not only help attain this vision, but also economic resilience, environmental preservation and social wellbeing in the province, we agree to collectively support the goals and programs set forth in the SecuRE Negros Roadmap, they said. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star)