ORMOC CITY, Leyte, Sept. 8 (PNA) – While the Department of Energy is pushing for the generation of clean energy from natural resources, some experts are apprehensive with the unstable power produced by variable renewable energy (VRE) such as solar and wind due to its fluctuating nature.
Raul Galano, head of the Visayas Systems Operations of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) told reporters that variable renewable energy is named as such because of its inconsistence.
Solar energy for instance only has a 12-hour horizon considering there is no sunshine at night. Even at daytime, it works only when there is strong glare from the sun. Solar panels, however, get low irradiance every time there is thick cloud cover in the sky.
“When it is cloudy, there is a possibility that nothing will be received by the solar panels,” Galano explained. During summer, we can expect the sun to shine bright, however power will fluctuate during rainy and typhoon season.”
Galano adds that more than 100 megawatts (MW) of solar power are expected to be installed for the Visayas grid by first quarter next year. Most of these solar projects are located in one area, which is Negros which can pose a problem on power stability every time the island gets covered by thick clouds.
For its part, wind energy, unlike solar, can be harnessed even at night. However, it is also considered a VRE as it stops working when there is a small amount of wind blow. Even one minute of 500 MW power shortage as a result of wind stoppage will bring problems to the grid. (PNA) CTB/SQM/FELIX N. CODILLA III/EGR