DOE hosts dialogue on Asia energy issues

August 6, 2017

The Department of Energy (DOE) plays host to the three-day Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) that will tackle energy security, sustainability and resiliency starting Monday, August 7, in the island of Panglao in Bohol.

On the first day, the first session is on renewable energy (RE) for a cleaner future covering efforts in China and Malaysia. China Renewable Energy Engineering Institute director Xu Yifan, and adjunct professor and Nusantra Technologies Executive Chairman Dato Mohamed Razali Dato Yusoff will be the speakers.

The second session will discuss natural gas as a transition fuel and the best practices and challenges of natural gas infrastructure development. Institute of Energy and Economics senior economist and manager Yoshikazu Kobayashi will provide Japan’s experiences and initiatives in their domestic natural gas sector and a regional situationer on the resource.

Session three is on mainstreaming energy efficiency focusing on the conceptualization and development of a low carbon model town, an initiative following the 9th Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Ministers Meeting held in Fukui, Japan in 2010.

Preliminary researches were done in six phases covering the cities in Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Chinese Taipei, U.S.A., Peru, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Korea, Russia and Japan.

The fourth session is on the renewed role of nuclear energy with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director Dohee Hahn talking about the regional and global status and prospects of nuclear power and the role of nuclear energy in greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

There are 446 nuclear reactors in operation spread in 30 countries, including 61 under construction in 15 countries. Approximately 2/3 of the reactors are located in Asia with two new ones in Belarus and the United Arab Emirates.

On the second day of ACD on Tuesday, there are three sessions. Session 5 is on Energy Access and Connectivity with energy economist from Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Yanfei Li, tackling initiatives that aim to improve energy safety, optimize the distribution of energy resources, integrate regional energy markets and push forward the green and low carbon development of regional energy.

In the same session, Thailand’s Energy Policy and Planning Office-Energy Strategy Management Unit Director Tanongsak Wongla will talk about the challenges of cross-border energy connectivity, especially in relation to growing domestic demand.

Session 6 is on promoting energy resilience with Philippine DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella sharing the Philippine experience in developing the country’s energy resiliency policies and programs, such as the E-Power Mo!, to ensure resilient energy systems and facilities as well as an empowered consumers.

In the same session,  James VanCoevering of B-LEADERS will touch on the development of climate resilient distribution construction approaches. Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) vice president and head energy management Rolando  Cagampan will talk about their efforts towards supply versus demand and disaster resilience.

And lastly, SN Aboitiz Power Group President and CEO Joseph S. Yu will zero in on the issues beyond power, the food-water-energy nexus.

Session 7 is on the role of the future generation on sustainable energy. The Liter of Light will hold an orientation and solar build workshop. A total of 34 grades five and six students from Lourdes Elementary School in Panglao Island, and 12 teachers from various schools in Bohol will teach ACD delegates how to  assemble a solar powered lamp, a project of the DOE in partnership with the Department of Education, Provincial Government of Bohol, Meralco and Liter of Light Org.

On the third day of the ACD, August 9, there will be a working group meeting to discuss the approaches and strategies to move forward the ACD Energy Action Plan. After the group meeting, there will be an Economic Research Institute Network (ERIN) meeting and the holding of the 1st East Asia Energy Forum, which will focus on energy issues of sub-regions East Asia and ASEAN and the role of fossil fuels in addressing global energy supply requirements. DMS