Let there be light (in remote areas)
IT’S HARD to think that at this day and age, a huge number of households in far-flung provinces in the country still do not have access to electricity. For people living in these areas, having a daily supply of power to light their houses at night has, so far, remained largely a dream.
But with the help of concerned agencies and private donors, another 24,700 households in conflict-ridden areas in Mindanao can soon look forward to having a stable supply of electricity every day, after the Alliance for Mindanao Off-grid Renewable Energy (Amore) program has been extended to 2013.
Already on its third phase, the Amore program targets to bring energy services to such communities, which currently generate low incomes but are showing tremendous potential for development.
The Amore Program, which supports the government’s rural electrification thrust, energizes remote, off-grid rural communities in Mindanao using stand-alone renewable energy (RE) systems such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and microhydro technologies.
The third phase, in particular, was designed to assist the Philippines in transitioning to the next phase of rural electrification, which is household electrification.
It also targets to strengthen solar energy development in general, while also promoting the use of solar energy for education through a strong “solar schools” project activity.
Sustainable funding
Data from the Amore program showed that US Agency for International Development (USAID) provided $6 million for the third phase while SunPower Foundation gave $1 million in renewable energy equipment, in-kind technical services, and budgetary support.
The Philippine Department of Energy, other energy sector firms and private or international donors are expected to pour in a combined $5 million for the electrification project. Meanwhile, Winrock International is the overall leader for project identification, preparation and implementation.
These groups and agencies have agreed to again support the third phase of Amore based on the positive results of the program’s previous two phases, which ran from 2002 to 2009.
While having done most of its rural electrification work on a subsidized grant basis, the Amore Program had ventured into the commercial approach for long-term sustainability and expansion of rural electrification services.
Commercialization
According to Amore, the third phase uses commercialization as strategy in the fulfillment of its rural electrification mission.
By working toward developing and strengthening the renewable energy supply chain in Mindanao, Amore aims to link up rural households with energy suppliers and service providers, including financing institutions.
“The Amore Program hopes to develop vibrant renewable energy market linkages in Mindanao, beginning in the 474 Amore villages,” documents stated.
Aside from providing electricity to households with renewable energy systems, the Amore Phase 3 has also set a number of targets aimed at improving the lives of people in these communities through increased access to education and safe water.
Through various solar schools activities, the Amore program also targets to install solar PV systems in at least 150 schools and community learning centers (CLCs), 140 of which are located in off-grid areas.
These planned electrification projects can benefit at least 35,000 students with the provision of access to distance learning technologies, information and communication technologies (ICT), and lighting for nighttime use.
Clean energy
Through support for renewable energy education and training, Amore 3 also seeks to advance clean energy capacity-building and workforce development.
In particular, these projects can provide professional, technical, or enterprise-related renewable energy training to at least 200 individuals, and implement educational activities focused on clean energy and the environment for at least 50 teachers and 5,000 students.
Further, the Amore program expects to provide some 12,000 households or about 66,000 individuals with better access to safe water through the construction of community-based potable water systems (PWS) and provision of water disinfection trainings.
Stand-alone PV and micro-hydro power (MHP) systems are usually installed by the Amore program in rural communities, depending on the community's resources and the mode of electrification agreed upon by program partners.
A PV solar home system can generate as much as 50 watts, which could light up two to three compact fluorescent lamps, radio and television, while a communal system can generate as much as 300 watts, which could be used in the lighting systems of schools, health centers and/or community centers.
Meanwhile, a micro hydro system can generate as much as 45 kilowatts.
Since 2002, Amore has already electrified 14,000 households in 474 remote, off-grid villages in conflict-affected provinces of Maguindanao, Davao, Shariff Kabunsuan, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Sur, Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi and the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Source: http://business.inquirer.net/money/topstories/view/20100527-272425/Let-there-be-light-in-remote-areas