The virtual session aimed to provide the participants with the technological advancements in the field of renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power. With the impacts of climate change affecting socioeconomic development at the grassroots level, calls for urgent action to address carbon emission and pollution directed at the power industry. Thereby the need to explore alternative to decarbonize energy generation process.
Day 1 of the session featured alternative energy sources meeting the demand for electrical and thermal requirement of an industry. As with Taiwan’s Net Zero plan, renewable energy such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass is a key to sustainable business growth and profitability while offsetting refractory emission via carbon sinks.
Korea Institute of Energy Research discussed their energy trend via the 3D (Decarbon, Decentral and Digital) with Clean Renewable Energy (RE). This is done by utilizing recent carbon-neutral technologies including modeling tool, RETSCreen. This tool allows end-users to determine renewable thermal energy generating technologies to be modeled, develop cases, concepts and efficient operation, validation, and system consideration. It also provides possible system costing and savings and LCA. Identified RE thermal generation are Solar Air Heating (SAH), Solar Water Heaters (SWH), solar-geothermal and Ground source heat pumps, which are technologies applicable to the country as well.
Day 1 ends with a virtual tour on the LDS Energy Co.’s facility and product lines. This includes energy generation and storage for use in isolated base station and aquaculture, wind energy generation and rainwater harvesting facility. The company has a complete line of products ranging from panels, inverters, converters, monitoring/management and battery system. To highlight their capability, they featured a range of demonstration site including Microgrid system for isolated island, micro grid system for farming, Off grid system for home and building applications and lastly, energy generation and storage for EV charging.
Day 2 sessions opens with discussion on the applications of renewable energy systems for businesses, examples of relating applications of solar PV technology being integrated in the industry. Solar Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) was the main technology and systems highlighted. The Renewable Energy Integrated System or REIS are being used in the PVT concept, it provides system integration and system optimization planning. One key features of PVT is its applicability as a building skin, design to provide cosmetics to the architecture all the while generating energy for the facility. The key concept for RE applications to buildings are: energy generating; energy generating+building components; and energy saving+energy generating+building components to achieve a multifunctional and active solar building envelope.
The second session discusses the existing and related policy frameworks to accelerate adoption of clean energy in Taiwan ROC. It highlighted the four (4) strategies for transitions which are: Energy, Industrial, Lifestyle and Social Transition. To achieve a relative Net Zero goal by 2050, legislations are being put up or amended in relation to the following:
- Climate – Amending greenhouse gas reduction and management
- Energy – Energy administration act, RE development act
- Hydrogen – Proposing hydrogen management regulations
- Building – Promoting energy efficient and mandatory solar pv installation
- Transportation – Promotion of electric vehicle
- Green Finance – Financial sectors capitalization on green technologies
These policies and key measures could be replicated or adopted by APO members in relation to each country’s individual carbon neutrality and net zero goal.
The last session was on how the Indian Power Sector streamline its adoption of clean energy sources for its energy needs. With its transition from mostly coal+lignite energy generation to renewable energy and nuclear, they have relied from the financing of the private sector in funding energy generation developments. Thus, in its effort to improve renewable energy, they started improving the grid with a one nation, one grid and one frequency policy, to allow RE developers to work on certain requirement and allow a greater penetration of market available RE equipment. Development for clean energy started from installation of large scale solar PV and wind farms and further development of the large hydro sources. Adoption started with policy amendment, including solar and wind projects through competitive bidding and renewable purchase obligation (PRO) under tariff policy, Transmission network through a green energy corridor, rooftop solar pv as part of housing plan (building code), buy and sell of RE certificates and green energy open access rule (consumers supplying <100kW can participate). With these, massive changes have taken over the course of a decade, including increase of RE in the energy mix (>1000% increase), massive funding of RE sourced projects (US $11.21 billion), inception of foreign investor in the RE sector, reduction in price of RE equipment and improvement in tariff for both solar and wind.
The objective(s) of attending the project or visiting the NPO(s) and relevance of the project to the participant’s work or to the work of his/her NPO or organization
The attendance to the project provided the participant an overview of current technologies and policies being undertaken by other member organization in terms of carbon neutrality, zero emission and green technologies. The information obtained from the sessions are important in line with the participants work on possible R&D activities, road map development, preparation of strategic programs and projects which can locally be implemented to support the thrust on reducing dependence on fossil fuel and carbon emission.
The information obtained can be used in the promotion of low carbon technologies in the industry to support net zero emissions.
Evaluation of the project
The project has provided relevant information in relation to its objectives. It has provided insights into emerging technology advances on energy from renewable or alternative sources. An overview of various renewable energy sources and their applicability were provided, including own-use case in Taiwan and Korea. It showed that non-conventional or renewable energy sources can meet electrical and thermal demand with enhanced reliability and security. Additionally, showcasing of technology through the virtual tour showed its flexibility and applicability either through grid or off-grid connections.
Policy frameworks and pathways existing in Member Organizations were clearly discussed and eventual recommendations were made to further enhance the policy or regulation and possible application in participants’ country. From understanding of sector-specific technologies, their benefits from carbon emission reduction to monetary savings, were provided first-hand by the implementers themselves. Pointers on the implications of policy measures along with the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to a carbon neutral community where also discussed.
Additionally, benefits of harnessing renewable energy were provided by elaborating the clean energy adoption at the Asia Pacific level.
Benefits derived from the project and how it can be applied or shared for wider dissemination
The main benefits include determining applicable technology in the country depending on short-, medium- and long-term goal and suitable mechanism under the RE context of the country. Getting firsthand account of the emerging technologies can aid in the development of strategic projects and R&D activities to be undertaken to realize its applicability locally.
Suggestions for improvement
With the easing restrictions and traveling access, it may be of benefit that projects/seminars could be conducted face to face to allow access to more information, opportunity to connect personally to other nation’s experts and networking with other organization and promote collaborative engagements.
Submitted by
Agerico Bautista
Senior Science Research Specialist
Department of Science and Technology-
Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technologies
Research and Development
Email: eric.bautista @ pcieerrd.dost.gov.ph
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