Originally published July 25 2005
Manila has "good-to-excellent" source of wind power, according to study
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Manila Times columnist Dan Mariano says the rising price of fuel isn't all bad, since it has renewed world interest in developing alternative, environmentally sound fuel sources, and he notes that a study shows the Philippines has more than 10,000 square kilometers with a "good-to-excellent" wind resource for wind power.
The relentless rise in crude prices in the world market has produced at least one benefit: the renewed impetus to develop alternative energy sources.
In this era of $60-a-barrel ($61.53 as of Thursday) crude, any effort that makes oil and natural gas go a longer way through additives, such as sugar-based alcohol and coconut oil, should be welcomed.
They continue to foul up the environment even if at a much reduced rate.
When reserves of petroleum and other hydrocarbons dry up, as they inevitably will, economies that have grown dependent on these fuels would be back to square one.
In the long run, the development of indigenous, renewable and environment-friendly energy sources is the best option of countries, like the Philippines, that do not have significant reserves of coal, petroleum and natural gas.
The environmental group Greenpeace cites a study conducted by the US-based National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which points out that the Philippines offers a land area of more than 10,000 square kilometers with a "good-to-excellent" wind resource.
Using conservative assumptions of seven megawatts per square kilometer, these areas could support over 70,000 MW of installed capacity, delivering more than 195 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually.
However, even advocates of wind power acknowledge that additional studies are required for a more accurate assessment of the country's wind potential, taking into account factors such as the existing transmission grid and accessibility.
In what the report "Windforce 12" describes as a major milestone for wind power development in Southeast Asia, the first wind farm in the Philippines was commissioned last month.
Other funds came from Northwind Power Development Corp., Trade and Investment Development Corp. of the Philippines, ABNAMRO Bank NV and the Danish Export Credit Agency, which provide loans payable in 10 years without interest.
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