PE2 calls for urgent EE action at energy forum
MAKATI CITY, 4 October 2024 – The Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) made multiple urgent calls for energy efficiency (EE) action during the POWERTRENDS 2024 International Business Forum, which was held in New World Makati Hotel from 3-4 October 2024. This two-day event centered on the theme, “The Tightrope Walk to Energy Security: Navigating Challenges and High-Wire Solutions Along the Wave of Shift to Renewables.”
PE2 Vice President for External Affairs Theresa Acedillo-Lapuz underscored the importance of energy efficiency in her presentation, “Today’s Wastage is Tomorrow’s Shortage.” She explained, “[Energy efficiency] is not about cutting back or making sacrifices. It’s about using energy smarter. It’s about getting the same results with less energy input.” Acedillo-Lapuz capped her presentation with EE case studies gathered from various PE2 members. She joined a climate crisis panel discussion with REurasia CEO Maxime Droit, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines (CCBPI) Vice President for Corporate, Regulatory and Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability Atty. Juan Lorenzo Tañada, Wartsila business development manager Romeo Cubangbang, Philippine Coconut Authority Data Scientist Elmer Robles and Renewable Energy Association of the Philippines (REAP) President Erel Narida as moderator.
In the succeeding session on policy, regulatory and financing perspectives, PE2 president Alexander Ablaza explained how energy efficiency can quickly be scaled up to bolster energy security by managing peak demand across grids. He explained that daily peak demand can be permanently shaved by aggressively implementing cooling and other energy efficiency projects in the demand-side of the electricity market. Peak loads may also be shifted to off-peak periods through various energy storage technologies, especially if such capital investments are made more commercially viable through wider time-of-use rate differentials approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission.
Ablaza said, “While we are pleased that EE is reflected as the driver of the steady increase of reduction of final energy demand in the Clean Energy Scenario of the Philippine Energy Plan 2023-2050, we commend Cambodia for including EE in its long-term energy mix by incorporating targeted EE savings as a primary resource alongside coal, renewables and other sources in its Power Development Plan through 2040.” He also explained that innovation in mobilizing capital through energy service companies (ESCOs) will be crucial in bridging the Philippines’ off-balance sheet EE investment gap of over USD 162 billion through 2040.
The PE2 chief joined energy journalist and book author Myrna Velasco as panel moderator, and fellow panelists, DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan, ERC Director Sharon Ocampo-Montañer, GAA Delgado Chairman Guido Alfredo Delgado, Development Bank of the Philippines Senior Manager Jericho Martinez, ING Bank Country Manager Leoncio Palanca Jr, and Climate Fund Managers Investment Manager Marc Morales in Session 4 of the forum.
During the first day of the forum, PE2 member Schneider Electric, through its Strategic Segment Director Nico Echavarria, explained how critical the transmission backbone is to our economy’s pathway to a clean energy future.
PE2 is one of the supporting organizations of POWERTRENDS 2024, which is known as the longest-running international energy event in the Philippines.
