DOE: P72 billion needed for full Philippine electrification by 2028

The Department of Energy (DoE) said it is seeking P72 billion for its total electrification program, and estimated the economic benefit of providing power to the entire country at P315 billion.

On the first day of the US Embassy’s 16th Media Seminar on Monday, Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina L. Guevara said that the estimate for the funds needed to achieve total electrification covers the period to 2028.

“A portion of that budget will be taken out of a loan because we already have a budget allocated for total electrification — around P3 billion to P5 billion per year,” Ms. Guevara said.

“So that’s around P25 billion, and we need P72 billion … so we might need to borrow because we have a deficit and the budget cannot increase suddenly,” she added.

She said that the DoE is in talks with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the loan. The program will seek to build distribution lines, electrify remote barangays and sitios, and install home solar systems.

Ms. Guevara said that the department presented the program and its economic benefits to the National Economic and Development Authority and the Department of Finance last week.

“We presented to them our request, and they seem to be happy about the numbers that came out of our study, particularly the economic benefits,” she said.

“Nobody reported (the estimated economic benefits) to them before. So, because of that, we’re thinking of a possible loan from ADB or the World Bank and thinking of government appropriations through the Department of Budget Management (DBM),” she added.

According to the study, giving low-income families access to up to eight hours of electricity a day will boost their income by 17.9%, while their expenditure is expected to increase by 17%.

If access to electricity were increased to eight hours to 16 hours per day, income and expenditure are expected to increase by 33.3% and 33%, respectively.

If low-income families are given access to electricity for 16 to 24 hours a day, their income and expenditure are projected to increase by 49.4% and 52.2%, respectively.

“If we are able to do total electrification, the economic benefit (of) P315 billion… (is equivalent to) 1.8% of our gross domestic product (GDP),” Ms. Guevara said.

“And the total electrification program is just P72 billion. If you invest that but get P315 billion back, wouldn’t that be a win?” she added.

According to Ms. Guevara, more than 2 million households currently have no access to electricity.

The DoE estimates the current household electrification rate at 93.12% at the end of March, while the target for this year is 94.83%.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said in his State of the Nation Address last year that the target is to achieve full household electrification by the end of his term.

Source: Business World

Improve Your Home's Lighting, Room by Room

The right fixtures—and bulbs—can make all the difference

Most rooms require more than one type of fixture for optimal lighting.

Have you ever sat in your living room squinting over a crossword puzzle, struggled to find your way to the bathroom at night, or noticed at midafternoon that your morning shave missed half your chin? The answer may be that you need better lighting around your house. Creating a safer, more functional lighting scheme can be as easy as replacing or moving a few fixtures (such as lamps, pendants, and sconces). And as LEDs replace traditional incandescent lightbulbs, using the unique qualities of this new technology to your advantage can vastly improve how every light in your home functions.

Find Your Fixtures

To begin with, every space in your home needs both overall illumination and focused lighting that lets you see well in a specific area. Using a combination of fixtures can help you create these "layers" of light, so we’ll start there.

1. Recessed Lighting

Sometimes called "can" lights, these appear flush with the ceiling and provide overall illumination. Today’s LED versions can be tiny and unobtrusive. Some come as a single integrated unit (instead of a housing and a removable bulb). Be sure to choose models with replaceable components in case something breaks. If you don’t already have recessed lights, you’ll need an electrician to install them.

2. Undercabinet Fixtures

Mounted beneath upper cabinets, they brighten countertop work areas. Choose hardwired or plug-in LED strips, or low-profile LEDs that mount with double-sided tape.

3. Ceiling Fixtures (Flush, Semi-Flush, Pendant)

These come in variations on a theme: an enclosed or semi-enclosed light source, often with a globe, drum, or ornamental surround, sits flush against the ceiling, extends on a rod, or hangs on a cord. They typically provide overall illumination, but ceiling pendants hung above a kitchen island or table can also offer task lighting or add decorative impact. Pro tip: Choose a pendant with a frosted globe to avoid the glare of a bare bulb.

4. Chandeliers

A multilight unit is a classic choice above a dining room table, and because LEDs offer exceptional miniaturization, you can now find many sleek, sculptural styles. Dimmability is a must.

5. Sconces

Wall-mounted lighting bounces light to walls and ceilings for overall illumination or to highlight a design feature.

6. Table and Floor Lamps

A lamp with a fabric shade will cast light up, down, and even to the sides (if the shade is light in color). A style with an upturned bowl-like shade (an "uplight") can create a pool of illumination on the ceiling. And a style with an articulated arm can offer just the light you need for reading, writing, or project work.

Get the Right Mix of Lights

Every room in your house has a specific function. So, too, every room in your house has specific lighting needs. Choosing the fixtures and lightbulbs that best meet those needs will help you achieve the right combination of lighting for every space.

Kitchen

Here you’ll need plenty of overall brightness, accented with focused task lighting on surfaces (counters, cooktop, sink) for the work of meal prep and cleanup. Achieve these lighting layers by using either existing or replacement recessed, flush, semi-flush, or pendant ceiling fixtures, updated with 2,700 or 3,000 Kelvin LED bulbs. Then add undercabinet LED task strips in a Kelvin of 4,000 or above for sharper acuity.

Bathrooms

Provide general illumination with overhead fixtures so that you can see well in the whole room (including inside the shower and above the tub), then add extra lighting at the vanity for grooming. A pair of frosted glass sconces on either side of the mirror—or a mirror with a built-in LED "frame"—will do the trick. If you’re calling in an electrician, consider adding LED strip lighting to the toe kick at the base of a sink cabinet to illuminate the floor. If it’s on its own switch, you can just turn on the kick light at night for safety without glare. When choosing bulbs, stick with a Kelvin number of either 3,000 or 2,700. Schmidt says your choice depends on your complexion and what hue you prefer for applying makeup, shaving, and other grooming tasks. For intensity, especially for the mirror surround, you’ll probably want between 1,200 and 1,600 lumens, depending on personal preference.

Hallways and Staircases

Stairs and hallways can be dangerous without adequate illumination, particularly at night. Jennifer Brons of the Light and Health Research Center also says that no one’s eyes adjust quickly from full darkness to bright light, so motion sensor lighting isn’t ideal in this area. Instead, plan lighting that’s ample but not too glaring. Think shaded wall sconces, table lamps, and night lights placed throughout the space.

Living Room/Family Room

There’s a paradox to these areas, Brons says. You want to create ambience—people tend to like warmth without brightness in rooms where they relax—but you also need greater light intensity for tasks like reading. Schmidt recommends tackling this with table and floor lamps that cast light up to ceilings and walls as well as at your lap for reading or hobby work. To create a cozier vibe, try experimenting with Kelvin temperatures as low as 1,800. The lumen count you’ll need will vary because a room with only sconces and table and floor lamps could still be bright enough if each fixture uses higher lumen bulbs, while more light sources enables lowering the lumen production of select fixtures.

Bedrooms

You’re here to sleep. To encourage that, you want bulbs with Kelvin numbers in the range of 1,700 to 1,800, ideally at a relatively dim 600 lumens or so. In a bedside table lamp, that’s enough warm light for bedtime reading at a temperature that encourages rest. Brons says not to sleep with the lights on, either. "Our eyelids are translucent, so they do allow light penetration," she says. If you’re worried about getting out of bed in the middle of the night, it’s better for sleep to have plug-in night lights in the hallway or bath than leaving a bedside lamp switched on.

Source: Consumer Reports

10 offshore wind projects to generate power by 2028

At least 10 offshore wind projects with 6.72-gigawatt (GW) capacity are expected to generate power by 2028, according to Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara.

Guevara said that as of November 2023, 82 offshore wind energy service contracts with total capacity of 63.36 GW have been awarded by the DOE.

The projects are located mainly in north Luzon, west of Metro Manila, and various areas in Mindoro, Panay, and Guimaras Strait.

Guevara said a 2019 World Bank study revealed a potential 178-GW of offshore wind in the Philippines, leading to numerous service contract applications.

However, she said developers have identified four key elements for short-to-medium term success in offshore wind projects.

These include clear regulatory framework for permitting and seabed leasing, dedicated and competitive market support, availability of timely transmission system and interconnection facilities, and ports supporting storage, assembly, construction, and operation of offshore wind farms.

Guevara said the DOE is coordinating with the Department of Transportation and the Philippine Ports Authority in identifying potential ports and private investors that can upgrade ports needed for large offshore wind projects.

“Prioritization of offshore wind port development will dovetail the timeline of offshore wind developers,” she said.

On top of policy and regulatory support, Guevara said the DOE is also continuously advancing offshore wind development through funded programs.

Securing support from the Energy Transition Partnership, the agency is implementing marine spatial planning (MSP) and a study on permitting and consenting.

“MSP is crucial for derisking projects, identifying development zones, and planning for necessary network upgrades. The study on permitting and consenting aids the implementation of EO 21, clarifying requirements for offshore wind development permits and approvals,” Guevara said.

Citing the importance of grid readiness for offshore wind capacity, Guevara said the DOE, with World Bank Group assistance, is engaged in grid integration and transmission planning.

These include activities in wind resource measurement, which identifies offshore wind development zones and sets auction price ceilings, as well as transmission expansion and upgrades which reviews data, presents future generation scenarios, and outlines indicative transmission plans for 2030, 2035, and 2040.

Guevara said the Energy Secure Philippines project of the United States Agency for International Development has also funded the implementation of capacity-building program on offshore wind which was conceptualized to capacitate government agencies, financing institutions and developers in various aspects of offshore wind development.

In addition, the capacity-building program intends to map out the existing and needed workforce skills to support the offshore wind industry.

Offshore wind energy has been identified by the DOE as one of its top priorities in the country’s renewable energy sector.

As such, the DOE and its national government agency partners are working on developing an ecosystem for the offshore wind power industry in hopes of having the Philippines’ first offshore wind project operational before the term of the current administration ends.

In the updated Philippine Energy Plan, which the DOE will be releasing, offshore wind has been included in the country’s portfolio of renewable energy.

Source: Philstar