Energy Source BY MOHEDDIN U. SUMAGAYAN Why Hydropower?
Energy from water or hydropower is still the cheapest
way to generate energy (electricity). After constructing the essential infrastructure and installing the equipment, the energy source is free and is continuously and naturally renewed by precipitation. This process of energy generation is a reliable, environmental friendly and renewable source of electricity since it only requires energy from moving water. Situation in SEA Nearly 85 per cent of electrical power is generated from fossil fuels. The renewable mix relies almost exclusively on hydro and geothermal electricity generation (12 % and 3 % respectively). The combination of rapid economic development coupled with the very rapid urbanization rate globally has led SEA region emits greenhouse gases (GHGs) twice as fast as the global average. Its vast untapped opportunities in renewable energy development and energy efficiency should play an integral role in curbing future emissions. Hydropower development in the region can help ASEAN achieve its target of 15 per cent of renewable energy in the total ASEAN power supply by 2020. Overview of the electrification conditions in the SEA region
Source: World Small Hydro Power Development Project Report in 2013
(www.smallhydroworld.org ) Hydropower in the Philippines
Philippines is a tropical country.
The Philippines produces rainfall ranging from 965 to 4,064 millimeters every year where 1,000mm to 2,000mm are collected as runoff by a natural topography of 412 principal river basins, 59 natural lakes and many small streams Through the Renewable Energy Law, the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) aims to increase hydropower capacity by 160 per cent Hydropower Accdg to Size Type of Hydro Generation accdg to Size Large Hydro >100MW Medium Hydro 10MW 100MW Small Hydro 1MW 10MW *Philippine Mini-hydro 100KW 1MW definition (according to World Micro-hydro 5KW 100KW Small Hydropower Report by UNIDO & Pico-hydro <5kW* ICSHP): Upto 1 kW Small Hydropower (SHP) Under the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and International Center on Small Hydropower, all hydropower up to 10 MW is defined as small. SHP has greatly contributed to solving the problem of rural electrification improving living standards and production conditions promoting rural economic development alleviating poverty reducing emissions SHP is an economically efficient technology, highly favored by the international community, especially by developing countries. Small Hydro in the Philippines
Total installed capacity for SHP plants is 101 MW with a
total estimated potential of 1,874 MW (approximately 5.4 %) has been developed. Recent Mindanao Power Mix Non-renewable 1,898 MW 1,070 MW coal + 828 MW diesel Renewable 1,264 MW 108 MW geo-thermal, 1,061 MW hydro, 36 MW biomass, & 59 MW solar Total installed 3,162 MW capacity
Mindanaos power mix: more coal and diesel than hydro
Mindanao is home to many large river systems and many hydropower plants Zero head hydro With the continuing electrical crisis and concern for the environmental impact on the fish ecosystem with the use and installation of water dams for hydropower systems, many technologies have emerged to generate hydropower with no heads or zero heads and thus, has no use for dams but instead just rely on the movement of water. These systems rely on the free flow of water. These hydropower systems usually operate in river, tidal, and ocean currents. For river systems, they are also called run-of-river hydropower systems. The faster the current, the more energy is harnessed. The turbine used for these systems are sometimes called free-flow hydropower turbine or marine current turbine or MCT or hydrokinetic turbine or HKT. Conclusion SHP has greatly contributed to solving the problem of rural electrification improving living standards and production conditions promoting rural economic development alleviating poverty reducing emissions Run-of-river hydropower systems are convenient for study as there is abundance of energy source in the topography of Mindanao especially in Lanao areas. Run-of-river hydro is also very convenient to install. Run-of-River hydro is a huge help in energizing underserved/ unenergized and marginalized rural areas where access to the grid is still unavailable and thus have a huge economic impact. References World Small Hydro Power Development Project Report in 2013 www.smallhydroworld.org Hydro Power Development Project Report in 2016 www.smallhydroworld.org PAGASA https://www1.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/ NWRB http://www.nwrb.gov.ph/ DOE https://www.doe.gov.ph/ https://www.doe.gov.ph/list-existing-power-plants http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2017/02/mindanaos- power-mix-more-coal-and-diesel-now-than-hydro/