Berlin. 29 October 2012. “There is massive potential for deeper economic cooperation between the Philippines and Germany in the field of renewable energy,” Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad stated during her opening remarks at the GIZ workshop on renewable energy in Berlin.
The GIZ, or the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit, conducted on 19 October 2012 a one-day workshop on “Renewable Energy in Germany and in the Philippines“ participated in by representatives from the Philippine government and private sector players of the power sector.
The workshop provided an opportunity for visiting Philippine policy-makers and business representatives to meet German experts and learn more about Germany’s renewable energy (RE) policy, market intergration, as well as technical aspects such as grid integration.
From left to right: Rep. Henedina Abad, Chair of the Philippine House Committee on Energy; Philippine Ambassador to Germany Maria Cleofe Natividad; DOE Undersecretary Jose M. Layug, Jr. deliver their remarks at the workshop on renewable energy hosted by the GIZ.
On the other hand, Hon. Henedina R. Abad, Chair of the House Committee on Energy, noted that the enactment and implementation of the Renewable Energy Act in the Philippines was the product of “relentless advocacy.” She noted the challenges faced by the Philippines in its drive to promote clean energy and the need on the part of government to balance regulation with market competition.
The workshop featured in-depth discussions where participants share insights on the photovoltaic (PV) policy in Germany, market development and generation costs of renewable energy, and issues affecting PV grid generation.
The delegation was headed by Hon. Henedina R. Abad, and included officials from the Department of Energy and regulatory bodies such as the Energy Regulatory Commission. The private sector included representatives from SURE Inc., Edward Marcs, JL Business and Technology Consultancy Inc. and experts from electric distribution companies such as MERALCO, CEPALCO, Visayan Electric Company and Davao Light and Power Company.
r.Hans Jose Fell of Germany’s Green Party (ninth from left) takes time to meet the Philippine delegation
The workshop was one of the major activities prepared by the GIZ (or the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Interanationale Zusammenarbeit) for Philippine power industry stakeholders that took part in a six-day information visit to Germany to learn more about Germany’s experience in solar technology and grid integration. Another activity organized by the GIZ was a meeting with Mr. Hans Josef Fell of the Green Party. Mr. Fellhas been described in German media as “the father of the Feed-in-Tariff Law in Germany.” The Green Party member encouraged the Philippine Government to embrace renewable energy which he says will soon replace more conventional sources of energy as the prime source for electricity.
The Philippine Embassy in Berlin has been working closely with the GIZ and concerned federal ministries such as the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety in various energy and climate fund initiatives. And in September 2012, after the long-awaited feed-in tariff rates were put in place, the German Federal Ministry of Environment increased its assistance for climate policy and renewable energy in the Philippines by 3 million euros. END
