PE2 supports BatStateU for EE proposal to DOST
MAKATI CITY, 8 March 2022 - The Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance (PE2) transmitted today its official pledge of support to the Batangas State University (BatStateU), as it pursues a grant application with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for the university’s proposed research program “Advanced Research and Innovation in Smart Energy (ARISE) Center under DOST’s Niche Centers in the Regions for Research and Development (NICER) Program.
Penned by PE2 president Alexander Ablaza, the PE2 letter was made in response to the letter of BatStateU president Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo dated 7 March 2022, where the latter explained that the university proposal “is being developed in support of Republic Act 11285 or the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act and shall focus on the development of smart technologies in collaboration with higher education institutions, private industries, and line agencies of the government.” In the PE2 statement of support, Ablaza said, “Among the multiple ARISE program components, the component project entitled Regional Virtual Powerplant Efficiency Monitoring (RVEEM) for Industrial Estates and Technology Parks shows significant promise for a close collaboration between PE2 and BatStateU, primarily because the RVEEM outputs can potentially provide quantitative bases to trigger downstream decisions to conduct energy audits and implement energy efficiency improvements in industrial facilities through the energy service company (ESCO) performance contracting model. Because RVEEM is seen as an enabling intervention leading to actual energy efficiency projects, improved compliance of designated establishments under RA 11285, and responsive to the call for a clean energy transition and decarbonization of our economy, PE2 supports BatStateU in the pursuit of this ARISE program component.”
On 7 March 2022, BatStateU and PE2 held a virtual meeting attended by Ablaza and vice president for external affairs Teresa Acedillo-Lapuz for PE2 and Associate Professor and vice president Albertson D. Amante, Dr. Alvin Alon, Dr. Anton Louise De Ocampo for BatStateU. Dr. Aldrin Calderon, who was appointed the R&D Lead for BatStateU by the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) of DOST, also attended the meeting.
During this meeting, PE2 expressed its commitment to support the ARISE program of BatStateU, especially the RVEEM component targeted at industrial and government end-users. PE2 also explored the possibility to collaborate with the university on future projects that would support energy monitoring and energy efficiency improvements in the the fuel and thermal energy end-use of industrial establishments and the transport sector. Ablaza explained that, while multiple technologies and solutions are deployed in the cooling, lighting and power management markets, electricity accounts for only 45% of the country’s final energy demand. He said, “Civil society, the private sector and the academe should work together to build technological capacities for the reduction of final demand of fossil fuels in the end-use side of the energy market.”
BatStateU’s proposed ARISE Center shall focus on R&D programs, activities, and projects to support energy utilization, efficiency, and conservation in support of RA 11285. It shall be spearheaded through active collaboration with line agencies of the government (DOE, DOST, RDC, PEZA), higher education institutions (BatStateU as program lead together with DLSU, Mapua University, Cavite State University, Laguna State Polytechnic University and University of Rizal System), industry partners (through the endorsement of PEZA), private organizations and local government units.
