Renewable energy (RE) power plants are still supplying energy without any disruptions caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. according to an industry official.
“Most if not all RE (renewable energy) plants have been operating in spite of the effects of COVID-19, and were not affected by (the) disruptions,” Monalisa C. Dimalanta, chairman of the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) was quoted in a report.
“This is one key advantage of RE over non-RE plants, which is highlighted in our current situation,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) rules for both on-grid and off-grid areas are for full implementation this year.
The RPS requires power utilities as well as electric cooperatives and retail electricity suppliers to source their energy from eligible renewable resources.
Eligible sources include biomass, waste-to-energy, wind energy, solar energy, run-of-river hydroelectric power systems, impounding hydroelectric power systems, ocean energy, geothermal energy, hybrid systems, as defined by the Renewable Energy Act.
As of now, the NREB is still awaiting the decision of the Department of Energy (DoE) on some other facilities that applied for eligibility.
There are a total of 127 eligible renewable power plants with a generating capacity of 2,221.15 MW which are potential sources of clean power resources, as of March 31.
Households in areas provided with electricity from renewable resources are entitled to a half of the collected universal charges for missionary electrification.