Green Power Station for Palawan, in the Phillipines

It may be a small venture but it is important as it shows what the US Agency for International Development (USAID) can bring in terms of renewable energy to small communities not connected to the main grid (known as a “missionary area”).

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The Green Island Project relating to Green Island off the islands of Palawan in the Philippines is such a place- the town will enjoy reliable, sustainable electricity supply through a 25.5-kilowatt hybrid renewable energy system built through the support of  USAID’s Climate Change and Clean Energy Project.  The system derives power from three renewable sources—a biomass gasifier, which uses plant-derived energy, solar panels and wind turbines. Many missionary areas suffer because the only way they can generate their own power is by small generators running on diesel or bunker fuel which is costly, unreliable and of course, is not green energy.

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Joseph Foltz, (pictured above) acting director of USAID’s Environment, Energy and Climate Change Office, joined Climate Change Commissioner Mary Ann Lucille Sering, Energy Undersecretary Loreta G. Ayson, Palawan Gov. Jose Alvarez, Roxas Mayor Angela Sabando and Executive Director Laurence Padilla of the Palawan Center for Appropriate Rural Technology (PCART) for the inauguration ceremony on February 7. The system was initiated in support of the Philippines government’s “Energy Reform Agenda, Energy Access for More,” which aims to provide electricity to all parts of the country.

USAID Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele said in a message: “We hope this pioneering initiative will be replicated so that more communities, especially in remote areas in the country, can have access to electricity and help contribute to their economic development.”

The project is being implemented in partnership with the Roxas area local government and the PCART, which will eventually own and operate the hybrid renewable energy power station.

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A total of 50 households on the island furthest from the diesel-generator set, will benefit from the power system. The project also includes the installation of an ice-flake machine maker to help preserve the catch of fishermen and a reverse-osmosis machine as a source of drinkable water for the residents of Green Island.

The establishment of the hybrid renewable power system was made possible through a grant awarded to Solutions Using Renewable Energy, Inc. (SURE) under the USAID-CEnergy Grants Program. The Green Island project is just one of the six grants of USAid’s CEnergy Project which promotes renewable energy. So Green Island is going to live up to its name! At present it is not known what size and make of wind turbine will be used for the Project.

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