CDO lab enhances Mindanao’s potential for renewable energy
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NEW LAB. Dr. Shierlyn Paclijan, project leader of the "Green BioH2E" Research and Development (R&D) Laboratory, presents new equipment provided by the Department of Science and Technology on Wednesday (Sept. 25, 2024). The lab focuses on developing waste-to-energy technologies. (Photo courtesy of DOST-10)
MindanaoHerald | CDO lab enhances Mindanao’s potential for renewable energy | CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The development of renewable energy (RE) in Mindanao is about to pick up speed because to the opening of a new research facility here, especially in waste-to-energy technology.
Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan (XU) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) jointly opened the PHP6 million “Green BioH2E” Research and Development (R&D) Laboratory on Wednesday. The lab is supported by DOST’s Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) and is housed at XU’s College of Engineering (COE).
The lab will investigate the viability of turning garbage into energy, according to project head Dr. Shierlyn Paclijan, with the ultimate goal of lowering energy costs for nearby industry.
“If successful, this technology can reduce production costs and utility rates, making local goods more affordable,” stated Paclijan. He also mentioned that talks to collect wastewater for energy conversion are currently taking place with the City Local Environment Resources Office.
With an emphasis on ensuring that renewable energy is affordable and sustainable for Northern Mindanao, the lab’s pilot projects are anticipated to set the stage for sectors to embrace the technology.
The lab will act as a standard for the region’s renewable energy initiatives, ranging from small-scale concepts to large-scale industrial applications, according to XU-COE Dean Dr. Hercules Cascon.
The Mindanao Renewable Energy Acceleration and Coordination Hub has set a target for Mindanao to achieve a 50:50 renewable energy to fossil fuel ratio by 2030, and this new facility is a part of that effort.
Presently, 69% of Mindanao’s energy requirements are met by fossil fuels, with coal serving as the main source.
The island’s initiatives to use renewable energy are also supported by the commercial sector. Six network facilities in Mindanao have been converted to 100% renewable energy by PLDT and Smart Communications, with an estimated PHP23 million in yearly savings. (via PNA)
