Research Database

Access to sustainable energy source is crucial for healthcare facilities to deliver their services. Hybrid solar energy systems (HSES) are seen as a strong solution given the proximity of the Philippines to the equator. This study addresses the knowledge gap in the estimated energy consumption profile of Philippine rural health units (RHU) using easily replicable questionnaire and work sampling technique. The estimated energy consumption profile was used to determine the optimal HSES design and benefits. The RHU of Los Baños, Laguna was considered, and simulation of different energy system configurations was performed in the HOMER Pro software. Two scenarios were considered: a grid-connected and an off-grid RHU. The estimated average scaled load of the facility is ∼92 kWh per day. Estimates were validated against actual consumption, with 15–21% error. Results of the simulations show that a solar photovoltaic panel-grid system is optimal for the grid-connected scenario and can reduce cost of electricity by ∼35%. Meanwhile, a solar photovoltaic panel-generator-battery system is optimal for the off-grid scenario and can reduce cost of electricity by ∼61%. In both scenarios, the solar component is estimated to contribute ∼71–85% of the total annual energy production and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy security and climate strategy are the twin goals behind the aggressive promotion of the Philippines and Thailand for developing renewable energy (RE) resources. Investment in the RE sector in the Philippines, however, has been weigh down by barriers including: (i) the difficulty in accessing finance; (ii) tedious administrative procedures; and (iii) the lack of local acceptance, as identified from documentary reviews and in the survey interview done in the Philippines in 2016. The author explores in this paper the design and the mechanism of the Energy Conservation (ENCON) Fund, a well-acclaimed innovative financing scheme which is said to be a key that makes Thailand an investment hub for clean energy investment, from which the Philippines can learn from to similarly address these barriers to its own RE goals.

This paper aims to evaluate the policies targeted at regulating automobile emissions among ASEAN countries but with specific attention to the Philippines. Technology-based regulations on motor vehicles play an important role in reducing green-house gas emissions. However, regulations differ based on the level of economic development, policies and technological base of each country. This paper uses an example of the Euro 4 automobile emission regulations to examine its implementation process and strategies of each ASEAN countries. It subsequently focuses on the Philippines to analyse the role of government, multinational automobile manufacturers and local suppliers. The findings show that the strategies of automobile manufacturers have positively affected local suppliers’ technological capabilities.

This paper aims to evaluate the policies targeted at regulating automobile emissions among ASEAN countries but with specific attention to the Philippines. Technology-based regulations on motor vehicles play an important role in reducing green-house gas emissions. However, regulations differ based on the level of economic development, policies and technological base of each country. This paper uses an example of the Euro 4 automobile emission regulations to examine its implementation process and strategies of each ASEAN countries. It subsequently focuses on the Philippines to analyse the role of government, multinational automobile manufacturers and local suppliers. The findings show that the strategies of automobile manufacturers have positively affected local suppliers’ technological capabilities.