PH tops global list in sustainable energy

The Philippines ranked first in the World Energy Council’s World Energy Trilemma Index 2017 for the third consecutive year for having the best energy environmental sustainability among 125 countries, the Energy Department said Monday.

“Environmental sustainability, energy security and energy equity form part of the country’s energy development program,” Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

WETI ranks countries according to three criteria: energy security, energy equity and environment sustainability called “trilemma.”

“We welcome the good news that the Philippines for the third straight year landed number one in the World Energy Council’s World Energy Trilemma Index 2017 on environmental sustainability,” Cusi said.

WEC defined environmental sustainability as the holistic achievement of supply- and demand-side energy efficiencies and development of energy supply from renewable and other low-carbon sources.

Energy security is the effective management of primary energy supply from domestic and external sources, reliability of energy infrastructure and ability of energy providers to meet current and future demand. Energy equity is the accessibility and affordability of energy supply across the population.

Cusi said the Renewable Portfolio Standards, which mandates energy distribution utilities to source a minimum portion of their energy from eligible renewable sources, is proof of the national government’s thrust towards energy sustainability.