Renewable Sources of Energy for Rural Development: Report of a Joint Project on the Feasibility of Harnessing Renewable Sources of Energy in the Philippines

The present report describes the results of a project undertaken jointly by UNEP and the Ministry of Human Settlements of the Philippines to harness indigenous renewable sources of energy in remote rural areas with the target of promoting development of new and renewable sources of energy and improving the quality of life in these areas. The Philippines is highly dependent on crude oil for its commercial energy requirements. Oil has accounted for at least 93 to 95 per cent of the annual commercial energy consumption. By the rnid-1960's the Philippines commercial energy consumption was averaging 36.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per year for a population of 36 million, or slightly more than one barrel of oil per person. By 1979, the Philippines population had grown to about 47 million while commercial energy consumption had risen to 91.9 million barrels of oil equivalent per year, or about 2 barrels per person. On the basis of historical trends, future energy projections result in consumption figures reaching 135 million barrels of oil equivalent by 1984 and 185 million barrels by 1989.