Pangasinan 2nd District Representative Mark Cojuangco took aim at the Department of Energy’s (DOE) aggressive push for renewable energy, warning that an over-reliance on intermittent power sources like wind and solar could trigger skyrocketing electricity rates and severe grid instability.
During a joint hearing held by the House Committees on Energy and on Legislative Franchises on Tuesday, the lawmaker accused the DOE of overselling the real-world capabilities of clean energy technologies to the detriment of Filipino consumers.
“Paano pag gabi ang solar?” Cojuangco asked, pointing out the inherent limitations of solar power in meeting the nation’s baseline electricity demands.
Cojuangco explained that solar power plants usually operate at a mere 15 percent capacity factor, which nets only about 3.6 hours of usable electricity per day. He further argued that adding battery storage equal to 20 percent of that capacity would only extend backup power for a meager 45 minutes.
“Paano sasagutin ng baterya ang pangangailangan sa gabi?” he stressed.
The lawmaker pulled no punches, labeling the current presentation of solar and wind as ultimate remedies to the country’s power woes as nothing more than a corporate illusion.
“Ito po ay isang ehemplo ng marketing. Linilinlang po ang taong-bayan sa kakayahan ng wind and solar,” Cojuangco stated.
A staunch proponent of nuclear power, the congressman asserted that the energy department has yet to present a foolproof, long-term strategy to solve the country’s chronic power deficits.
“Walang totoong solusyon ang DOE sa kakulangan sa kuryente sa Pilipinas,” he said.
Cojuangco also shed light on the frequent, simultaneous shutdowns of aging local power plants, suggesting these forced outages are symptoms of a strained system rather than random coincidences.
“I find it implausible that that happens in isolation. Baka pinipilit tumakbo nang sagad-sagad dahil kulang ang supply,” he added.
Turning his critique toward policy, the lawmaker slammed the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA), claiming its flawed market structure has stifled essential investments in new baseload power plants while the DOE continuously avoids addressing the fallout of poor long-term supply planning.