New alternative energy plan to follow existing goal
At public hearings ahead of the drafting of the Alternative Energy and Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP 2018), suggestions were heard that the plan should be consistent with the policy and goal of the Ministry of Energy to boost the usage of alternative energy to at least 30 per cent of total energy consumption.
The hearings, held nationwide throughout August, were organised by the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE).
There was a consensus that the new solar energy plan should follow the existing goal of completing all installations in 2036, totaling 6,000 megawatts in generating capacity. At the end of 2017, plants with 2,849 megawatts, had been installed.
The new plan will see the installations of 12,725 megawatts between 2018 and 2037, divided into 10,000-megawatt in public solar and 2,725 megawatts of floating solar cell on offshore platforms,totaling 15,574 megawatts.
In regard to the development of biomass energy, the original target was set at 5,570 megawatts, of which 2,290 megawatts had been delivered at the end of 2017. The balance of 3,496 megawatts will come online between 2018 to 2025.
In biogas development using waste water and bio waste, the original target was set at 600 megawatts with 382 megawatts having been installed in 2017. Another 546 megawatts will be installed between 2018 to 2037.
Adding to the AEDP 2018 plan will be floating solar energy with a target of of 2,725 megawatts while the capacity of waste power plants have increased from 500 megawatts to 900 megawatts to help boost waste management and promote electricity production from biogas.
The biocrop plan set a total capacity of 680 megawatts in the AEDP draft.
The Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency said the cost of biocrop production remains high and it may lead to a rise power tariffs.
