Philippines still leads Asia in renewable power but share declining

Philippines still leads Asia in renewable power but share declining

THE Philippines leads Asia and the Pacific in renewable energy with 13% of
its electricity sourced from renewables excluding hydroelectric, the United
Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
reported.
However, this share has gradually declined from 1990 to 2013 as the country,
along with Cambodia and Singapore, saw an increase in its reliance on fossil
fuels.

This increase in fossil fuel dependence runs counter to the trend of
increasing investment in renewable energy, it said.

"In all countries, the number of FDI projects has increased between the
first two periods, and it has kept rising during the last period except for
China, Lao PDR, Singapore and Vietnam. Cambodia, the Philippines and
Singapore are the only three countries which have experienced an increase in
the fossil fuel and other coal, gas and oil electric power subsectors,"
according to the report, "Renewable Energy Sector in Emerging Asia:
Development and Policies."

According to UN ESCAP's Trade, Investment and Innovation Division (TIID),
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are likely to increase as an economy
develops.

TIID also reported that the energy sector, followed by agriculture, has the
largest contribution to GHG emissions in the Philippines and other countries
in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

"When solely focusing on the energy sector, it appears that electricity and
heat generation represent the main sources of GHG emissions while
manufacturing and construction accounts for more than 20% of the emissions
in all countries," TIID said.

TIID recommends the wider use of renewable energy sources.

Governments must also encourage innovation and invention of renewable energy
technologies and assist in renewable energy trade and investment.

"Government expenditure should focus on building quality transport, water,
telecommunications and energy infrastructure which are needed to provide
essential services to the renewable energy sector at a reasonable cost while
removing administrative and market-related obstacles," it said.

Countries should also "reduce import tariffs and non-tariff barriers (NTBs),
promote the use of tradable renewable energy certificates and strengthen an
enabling environment for FDI in renewables."

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Economy&title=phl-still-lead
s-asia-in-renewable-power-but-share-declining&id=138715

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com