Pagadian City’s Waste-to-Energy Facility installs clean technologies

Oct. 27, 2011 - PRLog -- Ruth P Briones, Chairman and CEO of Greenergy Solutions Inc, and Convenor of Zero Waste Philippines’ Forum said that the Facility that will be installed in Pagadian City  is  a  Material Recovery and Energy Facility (MREF)  and will strictly comply with the  country’s Clean Air Act and other environmental laws, and not to employ waste conversion technologies that produce harmful and hazardous emissions.

“Our intention is to build and operate zero carbon facility in Zamboanga del Sur that will dispose its waste, generate renewable energy at the same time reduce carbon emissions”, the Greenergy Solutions’ Executive had strongly noted.

These pronouncements had triggered from the series of actions of some environmental groups opposing the proposed establishment of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities using incineration technologies in some cities and municipalities in Mindanao, Philippines.

Briones said that, after a conduct of series of studies on the waste stream and the actual analysis of the   local waste situation of a certain town or city, the appropriate and right waste conversion and disposal technology will be employed, but, definitely, the proposed project will not employ waste incineration process.

It could be noted that Greenergy Solutions Inc. had signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) in September 2011 with five (5) Local Government Units (LGUs), including Pagadian City in Zamboanga Del Sur in Mindanao, Philippines for the establishment and operation of a Material Recovery and Energy Facility in that province to dispose its generated municipal solid wastes and the said project is now on its development stage.

“The paramount concern is the environment, although commercial viability of the WTE  project is also important, it is not enough that wastes are disposed of totally, we are disposing waste to reduce pollution, they  should never intend to dispose waste to increase greenhouse gas emissions.” Briones reiterated.

Noting  that  a WTE facility  is also  a material recovery facility that generates electricity, Briones further said that there are waste conversion technologies like anaerobic digestion or Biomethanation processes that dispose Municipal solid waste that are proven to be clean technologies and at the same time generates power and Carbon emissions credits under the Clean Development Mechanisms of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).  

“The Philippine environment is already very fragile, and to install facilities to aggravate its present state, will be a great disservice to the people and the environment. Any WTE facility should comply with Philippine existing laws, particularly the Clean Air Act, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Climate Change Act. It is not enough for a WTE Facility to bring in money to the host town, and not alone the commercial viability of a WTE facility is to be considered. If this facility complies with the Renewable Energy Law, it will in effect will be commercially feasible in the long run in view of the incentives provided for.”  Briones declared.

Accordingly, the Renewable Energy Law has expressly provided under Section 30 that the Department of Energy (DOE) shall, where practicable, encourage the adoption of waste-to-energy facilities such as, but not limited to, biogas systems. And the DOE shall, in coordination with the DENR, ensure compliance with this provision. As used in the said Act, waste-to-energy technologies shall refer to systems which convert to biodegradable materials such as, but not limited to, animal manure or agricultural waste, into useful energy through processes such as anaerobic digestion, fermentation and gasification, among others, subject to the provisions and intent of Republic Act No. 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999) and Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000).

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Greenergy Solutions Inc. (GSI) is a renewable energy company, registered in the Philippines, organized by professionals with more than 100 years combined experience in technology, operations, financial and policy development in environment and power utility sectors.The company’s founders and management seek to utilize their professional experiences, relationships and unique skills to originate environment and renewable energy project(s) and collaborate with foreign partners and investors experienced with development of renewable energy projects.