Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial Sector
The industrial sector is a major contributor to the economic growth of the Philippines. However, it is also one of the top consumers of energy, which is produced mainly from fossil fuels. The Philippine industrial sector must therefore be supported economically while minimizing the emissions associa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-09-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/19/5070 |
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| author | Patrick Gregory B. Jara Michael T. Castro Eugene A. Esparcia Joey D. Ocon |
| author_facet | Patrick Gregory B. Jara Michael T. Castro Eugene A. Esparcia Joey D. Ocon |
| author_sort | Patrick Gregory B. Jara |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The industrial sector is a major contributor to the economic growth of the Philippines. However, it is also one of the top consumers of energy, which is produced mainly from fossil fuels. The Philippine industrial sector must therefore be supported economically while minimizing the emissions associated with energy consumption. A potential strategy for minimizing costs and emissions is the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules on the rooftops of industrial facilities, but this approach is hindered by existing energy policies in the country. In this work, we performed a techno-economic assessment on the implementation of rooftop solar PV in Philippine industrial facilities under different policy scenarios. Our study considered 139 randomly sampled industrial plants under MERALCO franchise area in the Philippines. Under the current net metering policy, 132 of the evaluated facilities were economically viable for the integration of rooftop solar PV. This corresponds to an additional 1035 MW<sub>p</sub> of solar PV capacity and the avoidance of 8.4 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions with minimal financial risk. In comparison, an expanded net metering policy supports the deployment of 4653 MW<sub>p</sub> of solar PV and the avoidance of 38 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub>. By enabling an enhanced net metering policy, the widespread application of rooftop solar PV may present considerable savings and emission reduction for energy-intensive industries (electrical and semiconductors, cement and concrete, steel and metals, and textile and garments) and lower generation costs for less energy intensive industries (construction and construction materials, transportation and logistics, and food and beverages). |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:01:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f05697e9affe47cd99f952483f823e13 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T16:01:17Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-f05697e9affe47cd99f952483f823e132023-11-20T15:19:24ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732020-09-011319507010.3390/en13195070Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial SectorPatrick Gregory B. Jara0Michael T. Castro1Eugene A. Esparcia2Joey D. Ocon3Laboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PhilippinesLaboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PhilippinesLaboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PhilippinesLaboratory of Electrochemical Engineering (LEE), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City 1101, PhilippinesThe industrial sector is a major contributor to the economic growth of the Philippines. However, it is also one of the top consumers of energy, which is produced mainly from fossil fuels. The Philippine industrial sector must therefore be supported economically while minimizing the emissions associated with energy consumption. A potential strategy for minimizing costs and emissions is the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) modules on the rooftops of industrial facilities, but this approach is hindered by existing energy policies in the country. In this work, we performed a techno-economic assessment on the implementation of rooftop solar PV in Philippine industrial facilities under different policy scenarios. Our study considered 139 randomly sampled industrial plants under MERALCO franchise area in the Philippines. Under the current net metering policy, 132 of the evaluated facilities were economically viable for the integration of rooftop solar PV. This corresponds to an additional 1035 MW<sub>p</sub> of solar PV capacity and the avoidance of 8.4 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub> emissions with minimal financial risk. In comparison, an expanded net metering policy supports the deployment of 4653 MW<sub>p</sub> of solar PV and the avoidance of 38 million tons of CO<sub>2</sub>. By enabling an enhanced net metering policy, the widespread application of rooftop solar PV may present considerable savings and emission reduction for energy-intensive industries (electrical and semiconductors, cement and concrete, steel and metals, and textile and garments) and lower generation costs for less energy intensive industries (construction and construction materials, transportation and logistics, and food and beverages).https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/19/5070rooftop solar PVnet meteringPhilippinesindustrial sector |
| spellingShingle | Patrick Gregory B. Jara Michael T. Castro Eugene A. Esparcia Joey D. Ocon Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial Sector Energies rooftop solar PV net metering Philippines industrial sector |
| title | Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial Sector |
| title_full | Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial Sector |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial Sector |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial Sector |
| title_short | Quantifying the Techno-Economic Potential of Grid-Tied Rooftop Solar Photovoltaics in the Philippine Industrial Sector |
| title_sort | quantifying the techno economic potential of grid tied rooftop solar photovoltaics in the philippine industrial sector |
| topic | rooftop solar PV net metering Philippines industrial sector |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/19/5070 |
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