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Harnessing Renewable Energy Towards Sustainable Development in the
Philippines
Research · December 2018
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.34393.47201
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Running Head: HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
Presented to the Department of English and Applied Linguistics
De La Salle University - Manila
Term 1, A.Y. 2018-2019
In partial fulfillment
of the course
In ENGLRES (C31)
Harnessing Renewable Energy Towards Sustainable Development in the Philippines
Submitted by:
Ching, Stefanie C.
Submitted to:
Ms. Kimberly Migallos
December 11, 2018
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
1
Abstract
Renewable energy (RE) has long been associated with sustainable development (SD).
With the increase in demand and lack of fossil fuel supplies, many have turned to alternative
options like RE. In the current era of technological advancement, developing countries such as
the Philippines continue to push for its expansion due to its socio-economic and environmental
benefits. However, many challenges such as the lack of financial backing, technological
development, and public perception arise that hinder its development. This study investigates the
importance and feasibility of subsidizing RE for SD in the Philippines. In addition to a literature
review, a survey was conducted in order to understand the knowledge and opinion of the public
towards RE. Findings suggest that respondents are aware of their role, along with that of the
government and businesses' in mitigating the harmful effects of using fossil fuels and promoting
the use of RE. Economic feasibility remains to be the number one cause as to why they are not
willing to switch to RE. There is also the issue of the lack of public awareness and technology
that contribute to the lack of RE resources in the country.
Keywords​: renewable energy, sustainability
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Harnessing Renewable Energy Towards Sustainable Development in the Philippines
Renewable energy (RE) has become essential in the energy agenda as developing
countries continue to explore other renewable resources geared towards energy security and
sustainability. According to Brahim (2014), though it is expected that renewable energy will
account for a growing portion of the Philippine energy generation, fossil fuels will still be the
country’s primary energy source. Nonetheless, the instability of oil prices and predicted lack of
fossil fuel in the future, along with its deleterious environmental effects have urged countries like
the Philippines to search for alternative solutions. Developing sustainable rural renewable energy
has several environmental, social and economic benefits. Among these are reduced expenses to
purchase fossil fuels, promoting improved overall health and mitigation of global warming.
While renewable energy shows much promise to transformative social impact of rural
communities, Amador (2017) and Rezaei (2013) reports that majority of rural areas do not have
the capital to support the development of energy infrastructures. As of 2012, DOE reports that
RE accounts for 40.7% of the country’s energy supply. This is expected to grow as the
government is eyeing to be among the leading manufacturers in geothermal, wind and solar
power scenes in Southeast Asia. Though harnessing RE seems hopeful, efforts must be directed
to resolve existing problems and gaps leading to its progress and distribution.
The aim of this research is to explore the feasibility of harnessing renewable energy in
the Philippines by determining appropriate renewable energy resources and synthesizing possible
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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solutions to the existing barriers to entry. The research investigated the importance and
feasibility of subsidizing RE for SD in the Philippines to better understand its social,
environmental, and economic impacts through mixed methods. In addition, quantitative data
was collected through a survey questionnaire where respondents were asked about their
perception and attitude towards the sustainable renewable energy alternatives to oil and gas
within the Philippines. The study took place at the De La Salle University during the first term of
A.Y. 2018-2019.
Literature Review
Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development
Shin (2018) defines renewable energy as clean, replenishable energy that is generated
from natural resources. Examples include solar energy and wind energy. The outlook of
renewable energy resources as a key player in the global energy industry has been reported by
Abbaszadeh (2013). SD concepts have been discussed in in-depth academic written texts. The
World Commission on Environment and Development explains that SD entails a holistic
method; being inclusive about the socio-economic and environmental undertakings to address
primary needs. However, this must be done maximizing its performance efficiency without
putting future generations at risk.
According to Abbaszadeh et al. (2013), energy is critical in social and economic
development. It is essential in the current industrial era and age of widespread consumerism.
Energy is also necessary in alleviating poverty and boosting living standards. Ibid, renewable
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
4
energy can be evaluated as a list of objectives and limitations assessed in a regional or
international context.
SD has long been associated with climate change, while renewable energy has been
recognized as being able to aid in lessening negative environmental effects. Rezaei et al. (2013)
mentions that there is a growing concern of major stakeholders to push for the instigation of a
modern framework for energy security, environmental sustainability and to improve regulation.
As a result, more countries have recognized the importance of sustainability in energy generation
and distribution. Thus, it is vital to constantly monitor its progress. Ibid, using these alternatives
can mitigate global warming and effects of climate change.
Types of Renewable Energy
Solar Energy. ​Domingo details that as of 2018, the Philippines is ranked in the 1st place
among developing countries in Asia in harnessing photovoltaic (PV) systems for solar power and
placed at 5th worldwide. Peterson et al. (2012) enumerates the many advantages of solar energy
such as the lack of noise pollution, large support from the government through feed-in tariff
(FIT) programs and supply abundance. Mathias (2012) also adds the many applications for solar
energy, not limited to making electricity available in places that are not integrated into a grid
connection; distilling and heating water in remote areas; and even supplying power to satellites
in space.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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On the other hand, Marculescu (2014) explains its several drawbacks, including the initial
cost of PV cells. Although, efforts have been made to continuously make the use of solar energy
more accessible by producing affordable solar panels. However, one tradeoff would be the
efficiency and durability of the PV cells, particularly when they are exposed to high levels of
pollution. This can affect businesses situated in urbanized and polluted locations who intend to
make use of solar panels. Lastly, energy generation by solar panels is limited only when there is
sunlight, meaning that solar cells are able to harness energy more efficiently during half of the
day.
Geothermal Energy. As of 2013, the Philippines is considered as the world’s top 2
producer of geothermal energy, following the US (DOE, 2015). Fronda et al. (2015) reveals that
the Philippines has 43 Geothermal Renewable Energy Service Contracts (GRESCs). Among
these are seven operating fields with a total generating capacity amounting to 1,868 MV. On the
other hand, remaining service contracts are still in the preparatory phase. Ibid, Visayas has the
largest energy capacity, comprising 915 MV of the country’s total geothermal energy power mix,
followed by Luzon with 844 MV and Mindanao with 108 MV.
It is surmised that in the near future, geothermal energy may be the most economically
viable source of renewable energy. At the same time, fossil fuel supply is said to diminish, while
geothermal energy will emerge as the cheapest energy source. Rinkesh (2013) outlines the
advantages of geothermal energy such as being affordable, with power plants having an
approximated savings of 80% compared to fossil fuel power plants. Rinkesh (2013) also
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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references that geothermal energy use can be traced back to ancient times where the earliest
civilizations utilized it for heating, cooking and bathing. In spite of high initial costs for a
geothermal power plant, there is a great return on investment for both consumers and
manufacturers when operating in the long run.
Although geothermal energy has proved to have many pros, the technology for it has not
been widely developed and there are very limited people who are knowledgeable in this field of
discipline. As installation processes are extremely technical and desirable locations for the
construction of geothermal plants are scarce (Hasan, 2013), the coupled high installation cost
involves an intricate process. Steam must be drawn from within the earth and needs to be
transported to power plants for long-term installation process before being distributed to
consumers. Thirdly, harnessing renewable energy can cause significant temperature drops as a
result of injecting cold water into the earth, leading to the risk of running out of steam in the
geothermal power plant, concludes Hasan (2013). There is also the danger of releasing harmful
and toxic gases into our atmosphere, which suggests the need for the industry to resolve this
matter. According to Hasan (2013), power plants are restricted to places in the hills or mountains
where hot rocks underground can produce steam, further emphasizing the need for funding for
research and location scouting for power plants.
Wind Energy. ​Wind power is another widely considered renewable energy source as it is
clean and continuous. It causes no emissions in the atmosphere (Vasa-Sideris, 2018). Similarly,
because it does not emit any harmful gases into the atmosphere as opposed to the burning of
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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fossil fuels, it does not contribute to global warming. Ibid, wind farms such as those in Ilocos
(Adriano, 2016) can also rotate crop production while generating energy. In terms of health
benefits, the use of wind energy does not lead to harmful acid rain, nor does it contribute to the
pollution of the environment. Wind farms will not only help the environment, but can also drive
the local economy through job production and serve as tourist attractions, as stated by Adriano
(2016).
According to Vasa-Sideris (2018), the problem with wind energy is that there is low wind
power density for tropical countries like the Philippines. It is not a reliable source of energy
because of uncontrollable wind velocity as well. Furthermore, capital needed to invest in clean
wind technology is a major barrier for the local energy industry (Jaber, 2013).
In a study conducted by Jaber (2013), participants were asked about their opinions on
windmills and wind farms. Around 60% of respondents reported that they find windmills not
only visually displeasing, but they were also wary about using land-based windmills as an RE
alternative. Moreover, windmills also cause unpleasant noise and can pose as a threat to flying
animals. Ibid, there have been reports of birds and other flying animals that have been killed as a
result of flying into the motor rotors of windmills. While the remote location of windmills may
prove to be advantageous, another drawback is the impractically due to travel and maintenance
costs of wind farms.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Harnessing Renewable Energy in the Philippine Context
Effects in the country’s development​. According to Jaramillo-Nieves & Del Rio
(2010), RE has a significant impact to the social, environmental and economic energy
sustainability of a country. For one, it can help widen energy access for the population, reduce
harmful pollutants and help generate jobs. Ibid, among the environmental benefits of renewable
energy are the reduction of both local and global greenhouse gas emissions. Aside from that,
there is lesser need to exploit natural resources, increased integrity and overall stability of the
environment. In terms of the economic benefit, Jaramillo-Nieves (2010) mentions that the
development of alternative renewable energy industries can help drive regional per capita income
and lessen energy dependence. Finally, in contrast to conventional methods of producing energy
like using coal and fossil fuels, the RE industry is more labor intensive, opening the possibility of
providing people more jobs. Alongside this, RE provides a healthier and cleaner working
environment and reportedly offers higher-paying job as opposed to the fossil fuel industry. On
the other hand, a report by GreenPeace shows that since 1977, the geothermal energy industry in
the Philippines has helped the country save more than $7B, $65.9M for the solar energy industry
and $29.5M in the wind energy industry. The Department of Energy also adds that over
261,000MV of renewable energy is yet to be exploited by investors and stakeholders.
Barriers. ​Electrification of the complete populace cannot be achieved given the proposed
time period and can be economically exhausting (Avtar & Kumar, 2016). Due to its
topographical setting, one of the challenges the Philippines faces is integrating the whole
population to the national grid. A considerable amount of financial banking is also needed to
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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provide electrification to far-flung areas. Ibid, though there other available forms of RE such as
hydro and wind energy, its feasibility is limited by various geographical factors.
Other barriers limit the expansion of the local renewable energy industry. Dashefsky
(1993) categorizes them into the following: (1) intermittency, (2) scalability, (3) storage
capacity, (4) generation costs, (5) high tariffs and (6) issues on policy making. Intermittency
refers to the factors which cannot be controlled and are naturally occurring, such as the weather
conditions, season and location. Scalability, on the other hand, is associated with the amount of
energy being produced. For a larger piece of land, more resources and additional financial
support is needed if there is a corresponding demand for more renewable energy. Ibid, the high
tariffs imposed by the DOE, in line with their policies and regulations have led to delayed
processing time that is elapsed when acquiring the necessary documents for city-wide projects.
Methodology
Data Gathering. ​The study also made use of quantitative data gathering and analysis with
respect to small samples to ensure that outcomes remain measurable. Additionally, it made use of
the existing pool of related literature to collate relevant information which was evaluated
qualitatively. Key aspects of this methodology included choosing and working within the
formulated thesis statement, selection of a sample population, following the appropriate process
of data analysis, and the presentation of findings and major implications of the study. A survey
questionnaire was drafted and used by the researcher to gain insight on the public awareness and
attitude with regards to sustainable renewable energy in the Philippines.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Data Analysis. ​The research focused on the knowledge and attitude of college students as they
will eventually become young professionals and major stakeholders. Similarly, as they are
currently pursuing higher education in a variety of fields before joining and contributing to the
workforce; they would be more knowledgeable about the social, environmental and economic
implications of the subject matter. The sample population consisted of undergraduate students
from all the colleges under DLSU with ages ranging between 16 and 23. The online
questionnaire survey was conducted in DLSU for a sample population of 100 respondents. Data
was collected between November 10 and 12, 2018.
Results & Discussion
With the aim of understanding public perceptions regarding the use of renewable energy
in the Philippines for sustainable development, the researcher designed a questionnaire to survey
the sample population. The questionnaire was developed using ​online surveys consisting of
multiple choice and open-ended questions. The first section focuses on the socio-demographic
characteristics of the survey participants followed by their opinions, preferences and knowledge
about renewable energy resources. Data collected was summarized using tables and figures and
interpreted by the researcher.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Table 1. Frequency of the age distribution of undergraduate students from DLSU.
Age
Frequency
(years)
16
1
17
3
18
35
19
38
20
14
21
7
22
1
23
1
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Figure 1. Distribution of colleges of undergraduate students from DLSU.
The respondents were first asked what sustainability means to them. Only one was unable
to provide a definition of sustainability. Most answered by describing it as something to utilize
resources and maintain them without having to compromise the needs of those in the future over
an extended period of time. Others also characterize it as maintaining ecological balance without
damaging the environment; ensuring that what is done is reusable and minimizes waste
production. Likewise, sustainability is interpreted as having low maintenance fees and equated to
having the ability to go on without continuous support. The United Nations describes
sustainability as one that establishes economic and social progress in addition to equal rights,
proper resource utilization and the preservation and development of the environment. Harris
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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(2000) explains economic sustainability as having rational economic growth based on a valid and
efficient system. Social sustainability emphasizes on the development of the individual and
community. Lastly, environmental sustainability refers to the rational exploitation of natural
resources, conservation and to mitigate environmental pollution (Hoang, 2017).
Figure 2: Public perception on the role of the public, government and businesses in reducing the
Philippine carbon footprint.
The perception of respondents towards the role of the general public, government and
private sectors such as businesses in helping reduce the carbon footprint in the country can be
seen in Figure 2. The importance of their role was ranked on a scale of 1 to 5; with 1 being not
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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very important and 5 being very important. More than half of the respondents believe that the
public, government and business sectors play a significant role in the mitigation of Philippine
carbon footprint; particularly, 60% of respondents recognize the importance of the public in
making efforts to minimizing carbon emissions. Fifty percent of the participants and 54% of
respondents perceived that the government and private sectors are vital in reducing the effects of
climate change. In accordance to this is the study of Kaneko (2015), who found that people are
well-aware that the cooperation of the government and the private sector is imperative to
innovate and instal renewable energy to counteract the effects of climate change. Likewise,
52.4% of the people Moura et al. (2013) interviewed believe that the public should have the
initiative with regards to RE production to help reduce the negative effects of their country’s
carbon footprint.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Figure 2. ​Willingness of respondents to pay more for electricity generated from a renewable
source.
Based on the illustration above, it can be seen that respondents are predominantly willing
to pay more for electricity generated from RE. As opposed to the 70% who consented to paying
more, 30% of the respondents said that additional costs for the electricity generable from RE
would not convince them to utilize renewable energy. A study by Moula et al. (2013) reports that
62% of their respondents were willing to pay more for RE. From the figure, it can be observed
that there is a notable increase of respondents who said yes after finding out others would be
willing to pay more for RE generated electricity, particularly an additional 16% of participants
said yes. This proportion is also shown in the decrease of people who said no after finding out
that others were inclined to pay more for electricity generated from RE. Huh, Vosgerau and
Morewedge (2014) explain this “social default effect,” as one where the choice and willingness
of a consumer can be based on that of another.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Figure 3. Willingness of participants to live close to a renewable energy power plant.
When asked whether or not respondents were willing to live close to an RE power plant
such as but not limited to photovoltaic power plants, wind turbines, biomass or biogas power
plants, more than half expressed their consent. Based on the results shown in Figure 3, this
accounts to 55.4% of respondents. On the other hand, 44.6% of the respondents said they would,
which shows a 10.8% difference. Thomson and Kempton’s study (2018) revealed 61% of their
respondents were willing to live near wind turbines, while only 12% were willing to live near
coal plants. This suggests that respondents are more likely to consent to live close to an energy
plant if it is socially responsible and environmentally friendly.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Figure 4. Operating renewable energy facility present in neighborhood.
Based on the figure presented above, 82.4% of respondents reported that they have seen
renewable energy facilities present in their neighborhood. RE facilities include PV systems, solar
thermal, ventilation air preheating, geothermal heat pumps, wind farms and biomass systems
(Hayter & Kandt, 2011). Given that the survey was conducted within Metro Manila, there is the
likelihood that respondents would say that they have not seen any RE plants nearby since the
closest major geothermal plants are in the Luzon area, particularly Sorsogon, Albay, Batangas,
Negros Occidental, Leyte, and North Cotabato. On the other hand, Chua (2016) writes that there
are industrial solar farms in Pampanga, Ilocos Norte, and Cagayan de Oro. Ibid, local wind farms
are situated in Ilocos Norte, Rizal, Guimaras, and Aklan.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Figure 5. Factors considered by respondents when switching to an alternative energy source.
The different factors that respondents consider when deciding whether or not to switch to
an alternative source of energy can be examined in Figure 5. As seen in the graph above, costs
remain to have the largest influence, with insulation cost at 83% and running cost at 90% being
among the top considerations of respondents. Additionally, 81% of respondents answered that
environmental-friendliness is a major factor, next to 77% participants opting to switch depending
on the ease of changing to said renewable energy option. Ansolabehere and Konisky (2014)
summarizes this in their book, stressing that in the public wants renewable energy to be as cheap
as it is clean. Lastly, the two factors that have the least weight on the assessment of survey
participants prior to making the decision of using alternative energy sources are its appearance
and opinions of family and friends. As seen in the illustration above, 38% of the respondents are
willing to use RE regardless of the opinions of family and friends. Similarly, only 13% of the
respondents find the appearance of structures such as solar panels and energy plants independent
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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on their choice to change to renewable energy sources. In a comparative analysis conducted by
Dragoman (2014), respondents from Italy said that they were less concerned with the the
esthetics and visibility of the RE plants and equipment, but are more concerned about the
economic aspects and role of the government in regulating and subsidizing RE initiatives.
The survey also asked respondents about their knowledge on current government or
private business energy saving schemes. While 82% of respondents said they are unaware, a
number of participants were able to provide a response. For instance, according to one
respondent, some establishments are now switching or building facilities that now use solar
panels. This leads to lower electricity use in addition to local malls not opening all the lights and
air-conditioning units during early mornings since there are not much people. An article by the
Business Mirror ​mentions SM and Robinson Malls have done to add to switching to solar panels.
Secondly, the Maria Cristina falls which powers the Agus VI Hydroelectric Plant located in
Mindanao was also mentioned. Private sectors such as Sunpower Inc. or Metropac Movers have
acquired the use of renewable energy sources, specifically solar energy; as stated by another
respondent. Likewise, an article by Adriano (2016) featured in the ​Inquirer noted that some
towns in the province of Ilocos Norte rely on wind farms to generate renewable energy
amounting to 283 megawatts (MW). In Metro Manila alone, educational institutions have also
made a conscious effort to switch to more eco-friendly alternatives, particularly Arellano
University, which has covered its entire roof deck with solar panels. The same has been done by
Grace Christian College in Quezon City. Based on the reports of Solenergy, its design and
installation authority, using solar power as an alternative led to a notable decrease in the cost of
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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power consumption. Evidence to this is the school’s future plans of expanding its solar power
system for increased renewable electricity generation (2016). With the many positive effects of
renewable energy in inhibiting harmful environmental effects and economic benefits among
others, there were also banks and other private business sectors mentioned that have ongoing
initiatives as well. Even banks such as the Asian Development Bank, mentioned by a respondent
and Lectura (2018), prefer using cleaner energy.
Despite the variety of projects being done in order to promote the use of renewable
energy in the Philippines, it can be surmised that there is a lack of information being
disseminated regarding sustainable renewable energy use in the Philippines. This can be seen in
the majority of respondents who failed to provide an answer when asked this question.
Conclusion
Summary of Objectives and Approach. ​With the goal of studying the significance and
feasibility of exploiting renewable energy resources in the Philippines for sustainable
development, the research surveyed the tradeoffs provided by solar, geothermal and wind energy
industry along with identifying the barriers to entry. In addition, it also studied the knowledge,
perception and support of the public with regards to renewable energy. This was done through
mix methods including a collated literature background and a survey questionnaire.
Major Findings. ​Solar energy, geothermal energy and wind energy have been fairly-established
industries in the Philippines and are expected to expand in the coming years as conventional
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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fossil fuel supplies are deteriorating along with the increase in price and negative environmental
consequences. The role of renewable energy in sustainable development has been discussed in
the literature review. It can be observed that the public, government and private institutions such
as businesses are just as important in its development as they are the ones who will benefit from
it as well. A key finding indicates that the public discerns their role in sustainable development,
along with that of the government and private sectors. Generally, respondents are willing to take
the first steps in switching to RE, as detailed by their willingness to pay (WTP) more for RE and
to live near RE power plants. However, the researcher also noted that economic viability remains
to be one of the biggest concerns of respondents when opting to use RE. The lack of RE plants in
the metropolis is due to little financial support and proper education accounts for why
respondents have not seen any RE plants within proximity to their homes and why most of them
could not provide examples for projects or initiatives that are promoting the use of renewable
energy. Thus, the recommendations from this study to resolve the identified problems is to
encourage the government and businesses to subsidize new reliable technology to help lower
installation and maintenance costs and maximize energy production to make RE more affordable
for all. As for the role of the government, the Department of Energy should revisit its guidelines
for both small-scale and large scale renewable energy plants and add more incentives to urge
private institutions to exploit RE and clear out regulatory uncertainties. However, given that the
lack of developed technology is another challenge, reimplementation of policies for RE may
need to be held back, at least until technological advancements are made. In order to educate the
public about RE and produce more abled people in the field, stakeholders can establish training
centers in addition to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) providing educational
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
22
support through offering renewable energy courses in universities and conducting campaigns in
schools to raise public awareness about RE. Further research must be done on policy making and
effective systems of incentivizing is also recommended by the researcher. Likewise, case studies
are also recommended to explore how developed and developing countries alike have
successfully integrated the study and specialization of renewable energy into their curriculum.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Appendix
The Perception of DLSU Students Towards Renewable Energy
Greetings in St. La Salle!
This questionnaire is for a research study for ENGLRES concerned with harnessing sustainable
renewable energy alternatives to oil and gas, within the Philippines and the public opinion on
such. I am a second year Engineering major from the De La Salle University.
All information gathered through this study is completely confidential and anonymous, and will
not be passed on to any third party. By returning this completed survey, you agree to permit the
researcher to use your data for research purposes. Rest assured all information here will remain
anonymous and will not be disclosed.
Your time and cooperation is greatly appreciated, thank you! Should you have any questions,
feel free to contact me via email.
Stefanie Ching - ​stefanie_ching@dlsu.edu.ph
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Age:
College:
ID Number:
1. What does sustainability mean to you?
2. Please rate how strongly you feel each is responsible for reducing the Philippines’ carbon
footprint, on a scale of 1-5. (5 being the strongest)
a. Public
b. Government
c. Businesses/Private Sectors
3. Would you be willing to pay more for electricity from a renewable source (solar, wind,
biomass or biogas)
O Yes
O No
4. Would you be willing to pay more for electricity from a renewable source if everyone
else did?
O Yes
O No
5. Would you be willing to live close to a renewable energy power plant (photovoltaic
power plant, wind turbines, biomass or biogas power plant)?
O Yes
6.
O No
Have you ever seen an operating renewable energy facility in your neighborhood?
O Yes
O No
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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7. What factors would you consider when deciding whether to switch to an alternative
energy source ? Please select all that apply:
❏ Cost (installation costs)
❏ Cost (running costs)
❏ How easy switching to that option is
❏ Appearance (i.e. solar panels)
❏ Whether it is environmentally friendly
❏ Opinions of family and friends
❏ Other:_____________________________
8. Lastly, are you aware of any current government/private business energy saving schemes
running at the minute? If yes, please name any you can think of.
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Annotated Bibliography
Source 1:
APA Citation: Amador, R. (2017). Rural Renewable Energy Based Infrastructure of the
Philippines.
Summary: This paper responds to the increasing demands to expand regional electrification,
while taking into consideration the trends of rapid rural to urban migration by identifying critical
factors regional planners need to consider for the successful development of Renewable
Energy-based enterprises.
Authorship: Ryan Amador is taking up his Masters in Professional Studies in Urban & Regional
Planning at the Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies as of 2017.
Strengths and Limitations: The author has listed the process for developing RRE following the
local Department of Energy’s Rural Renewable Energy (RRE) Guidelines.
Comparison and contrast: It makes use of scenario analysis by using municipalities across the
country to formulate a demographic profile and present poverty levels.
Contribution to the paper: Provide a descriptive background on the current energy generation of
various RRE’s in the country.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
31
Source 2:
APA Citation: Brahim, S. P. (2014). Renewable energy and energy security in the Philippines.
Energy Procedia, 52, 480-486.
Summary: The paper highlights role of renewable energy in Philippine energy security and
sustainability by examining the status of renewable energy in the Philippines and discusses the
opportunities and challenges in the further development and deployment of renewable energy.
Authorship: Sahara Brahim is a research associate from the Energy Studies Institute of the
National University of Singapore.
Strength and limitations of the paper: Despite discussing a globally relevant issue, the paper
covers a local context, ensuring that the data is relevant to the scope of the research. However,
gaps between policy implementation and the application of related mechanisms have not yet
been identified nor resolved.
Comparison and contrast: In contrast to the other selected references, the data provided by this
report provides a holistic overview of the renewable energy profile in the Philippines and
ongoing programs by the government. Although there are laws enacted and policies have been
regulated, there are challenges highlighted similar to those stated in other related literature.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Contribution to the paper: This report identifies existing barriers by examining factors such as
present policies, economic and technological challenges that the Philippines faces in relation to
energy development.
Source 3:
APA Citation: Bishoge, O., Zhang, L., & Mushi, W. (2018). The potential renewable energy for
sustainable development in Tanzania: A review. Clean Technologies, 1(1), 70-88.
Summary: The research aims to assess how Tanzania can tap different forms of renewable
energy for leading to sustainable development by eradicating socio political, environmental and
economic issues in Tanzania. Additionally, barriers to the development of renewable energy are
also investigated.
Authorship: Obadia Bishoge (Team Leader for this research), Lingling Zhang and Witness
Gerlad Mushi are all research associates from the School of Energy and Environmental
Engineering at the University of Science and Technology Beijing.
Strengths and limitations: One of the biggest limitations of the research is that the majority of the
recommendations provided by the researchers in order to pave way for the development of
renewable energy have already been implemented in the Philippines to no avail.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Comparison and contrast: Like all the related literature, the report defines and provides indicators
of sustainable development (SD). However, it discusses SD in both global and localized
conditions.
Contribution to the paper: Given that this report is comparable to the intended study, with the
exception of the location of the study, the structural framework of this account can be used as a
basis for the research. Furthermore, as sustainable development remains a universal goal, it can
be surmised that the Philippines might be facing the same challenges in renewable energy
development as Tanzania.
Source 4:
APA Citation: Hoang, T. T. M. (2017). Sustainable development of clean renewable energy in
Vietnam (Master's thesis).
Summary: Using the SWOT analysis for the development of renewable energy in Vietnam, the
thesis paper discusses potential barriers, opportunities and challenges in addition to evaluating
how the Development Strategy is being applied in practice. Following this, it provides
recommendations to attain the strategic aims on renewable energy development for a specific
RRE enterprise.
Authorship: Hoang Thi Thanh Mai is finishing her Master’s in the School of Management of the
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
34
University of Tampere.
Strengths and limitations: The study does not make use of other strategies in analyzing the
different factors in renewable energy development and sustainability, which means that
recommendations provided may no longer be relevant or viable during the time of the actual
implementation of the program.
Comparison and contrast: Similar to Source 3, this paper also emphasizes on the importance of
interaction and cooperation of the private sector in maximizing the comprehensive effectiveness
of the strategies. Moreover, it also mentions that one of the issues in relation to why renewable
energy has not been able to develop in rural areas, national and regional scale is because there is
a lack of management skills and investments on the research and expansion of the RRE industry.
Contribution to the paper: The SWOT analysis used in this case study can be adapted and applied
when analyzing the effectiveness of developmental strategies for renewable energy in the
Philippine context.
HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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Source 5:
APA Citation: Rezaei, M., Chaharsooghi, S. K., & Abbaszadeh, P. (2013). The role of renewable
energies in sustainable development: case study Iran. Iranica Journal of Energy and
Environment, 4(4), 320-329.
Summary: Adapted from the Helio International Sustainable Energy Watch (SEW) indicators,
this paper is designed to come up with a localized framework for Iran by identifying current
issues with regards to the development of RE and policy making in order to monitor its
continued progress in the energy industry.
Authorship: Mohsen Rezaei is a research associate who specializes in toxicology. S. Kamal
Chaharsooghi is a professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering. Both researchers are from
Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran, Iran. Payam Abbaszadeh is the current laboratory head in
Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic) and holds a Ph.D in Technology
Foresight from Tehran Polytechnic University.
Strengths and limitations: Although research paper is a case study that focuses only on the
development of the renewable energy sector, the study suggests that some of the information
provided may not be applicable in the case of the Philippines, the researchers also presented
various energy and sustainability indicators from many different countries in the literature review
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HARNESSING RENEWABLE ENERGY TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
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to compare and contrast the characteristics in order to pinpoint the suitable ones for the country
of focus: Iran.
Comparison and contrast: This paper offers a comprehensive and detailed outline on the
sustainability indicators. Additionally, it is holistic because it considers social, environmental
and economic sustainability.
Contribution to the paper: The recommendations provided in the conclusion can be used for
current problems the Philippine renewable energy sector is experiencing as well.