by Alan S. Cajes, PhD
It seems that everyone is asking the question why is it that brownouts are occurring now, especially in the provinces. Our training participants asked that question when we experienced power interruptions recently in a training facility in Nueva Ecija. Five years ago or so, I would have an easy response to such questions given my involvement in energy projects then. So I decided to update my understanding of this issue today, as we celebrate Earth Day, since I’m also interested to know the carbon footprint of our electricity consumption.
Our total dependable capacity as of 2021 is 23,855 megawatts (MW) distributed as follows: 16,541 MW in Luzon; 3,333 MW in Visayas; 3,981 MW in Mindanao.
What is dependable capacity? Dependable capacity means the maximum capacity of power generation plants to meet the electricity demand and avoid power outages.
Is this dependable capacity sufficient? The answer is no, if you are experiencing power interruptions even in the absence of calamities.
What are the factors that affect dependable electricity capacity? The 1st factor is availability of fuels for power plants, such as coal, oil and gas. No fuel, no power. Expensive fuel, high cost of electricity. The 2nd factor is weather conditions that will affect solar, wind and hydro power plants. Less rainfall, low hydro power output. No sunlight, no solar power. The 3rd factor is emergency repair & maintenance. Machines with moving parts require regular preventive maintenance or repair when damaged. The 4th factor is demand from consumers. There are months when consumers use more electricity compared to other months, such as during the months of March, April and May. Consumers who do not use energy efficient appliances and do not practice energy conservation also contribute to spikes in demand.
So, power interruptions occur when demand exceeds dependable capacity? Yes.
If Visayas and Mindanao experience low dependable capacity, can we transfer excess capacity from Luzon to affected regions or provinces? No, if your area is not connected to the national transmission lines.
Can we increase dependable capacity by building power plants? Yes. However, proposals to build power plants go through the usual bureaucratic processes and encounter various risks, like political risks (permits & clearances), financial risks (funding requirements, interest rates & payback period), as well as project implementation delays due to pandemic, unfavorable weather conditions, etc.
How can affected provinces increase their respective dependable capacity? Option 1, work with concerned government agencies on how to connect to the national transmission lines. Option 2, develop new & renewable energy sources. Option 3, support the local electric cooperatives in their long-term power supply agreements and efforts to ensure grid resilience. Option 4, implement energy efficiency & conservation programs.
What can individual consumers do to help? First, invest in small solar, hydro, wind or biomass projects to support your electricity requirements (any excess power can be sold to electric distributors). Second, practice energy efficiency & conservation. Third, pay electricity bills on time. Fourth, participate in demand side management and related programs. Fifth, invest in companies that build & operate renewable energy power plants.
By practicing energy efficiency & conservation, we can also help in reducing our electricity carbon footprint, which is 73.9 Metric ton of Carbon Dioxide equivalent as of 2021.
(Data source: Department of Energy)
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