The Department of Energy (DOE) is exploring the possibility of incorporating higher volumes of biodiesel into power generation facilities to support national carbon reduction targets, reported Daily Tribune.
As per media report, on Wednesday, DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan announced that the department plans to collaborate with the National Power Corp. (NPC) to evaluate the feasibility of using a 55 percent biofuel blend in its 281 Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) power plants. These plants, which primarily run on diesel, serve off-grid islands and communities.
“Switching to a 55 percent biofuel blend would effectively convert a diesel engine to a biodiesel engine, similar to what is done in a biomass power plant. We are considering all diesel facilities and may use NPC’s facilities for testing if needed,” Marasigan said.
He added that the proposal is still in the preliminary stages, and there is also consideration for including privately owned diesel-fired power plants.
The media report further states the initiative aims to lower carbon emissions and reduce reliance on imported fuels, which could potentially decrease fuel prices.
Under current DOE guidelines, the coco methyl ester blend in diesel fuel is set to increase gradually, starting at 3 percent in October and reaching 5 percent by 2026. Additionally, fuel retailers may voluntarily raise the ethanol content in gasoline from 10 percent to 20 percent.
As of the end of 2023, diesel-fired, hybrid diesel-fired, and bunker-diesel-fired power plants contribute 2,744 megawatts to the country’s power capacity, accounting for 9.6 percent of the energy mix.
