SU highlights green energy initiative at a forum

Silliman University, through its focal person for externally funded projects, Asst. Prof. Jane Annette L. Belarmino, shared the University’s journey to being completely powered by renewable energy since 2019 at an energy forum in Bacolod City on May 22, 2024.

Belarmino was among the keynote speakers at the “Leading the Charge: The Role of Higher Education in Advancing the Just Energy Transition,” a forum held at the Negros Occidental Provincial Capitol Social Hall.

In her speech, Belarmino said that SU’s switch to renewable energy demonstrates its commitment to the care of the environment, which is embodied in its vision, mission, and goals.

“Silliman University as an institution shows the way by being a model of a sustainable campus, demonstrating the principles of Zero Waste, energy conservation and renewable energy
utilization, and a reduced carbon footprint, among others,” she said.

Belarmino recalled that the SU’s use of renewable energy began with the installation of solar panels in 2016. This has a capacity of 210 kw, which is equivalent to the university’s base load. However, the university decided not to source its energy requirements entirely from solar given its instability for the whole year. This necessitated getting the additional energy requirement from the local electric distributor or cooperative, whose energy is sourced from a combination of renewable and nonrenewable sources.

The university was designated as a contestable consumer by the Energy Regulatory Commission. This designation enabled SU to participate in the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA), allowing it to choose its supplier of electricity other than the local electric cooperative.

The RCOA differs from the Green Energy Option Program of the Renewable Energy Act of 9513. The former allows energy users to choose from energy suppliers that use either nonrenewable or renewable energy while the latter empowers energy users to opt for complete renewable energy to source their requirements.

“Silliman made a deliberate choice to choose a retail electricity supplier with renewable energy, even though coal as a source was much cheaper at that time,” Belarmino revealed.

This made the university to be among the first institutions to switch to the more stable geothermal energy with a retail electricity supplier.

After years of using renewable energy, SU has reaped many benefits.

“The commitment to utilize clean and renewable energy to meet the power requirements of the campus has enabled Silliman to avoid utilizing 3,679.22 tonnes of CO2 equivalent from December 26, 2021 to December 25, 2023. This milestone has contributed
greatly to the country’s mission for a decarbonized and regenerative future,” Belarmino said.

The Province of Negros Occidental, Oxfam Philippines, Reboot Philippines, and the
Legal Resources Center collaborated to organize the forum, which aimed to provide participants with practical skills and tools, help them better understand the concept of a Just Energy
Transition, and encourage cooperation and commitment to promote sustainable energy practices
in communities and academic institutions.