Representatives from hospital and healthcare facilities participated in The Climate Reality Project Philippines’ REalize for Hospitals: Empowering a Climate-Resilient Health Sector with Renewable Energy, organized in partnership with Health Care Without Harm, on 13 May 2024. (Contributed photo)
MANILA, (PIA) — Hospitals in the Philippines are increasingly turning to renewable energy sources like solar and wind power to cut costs and reduce their environmental impact, thanks to a government program.
The Department of Health (DOH) is promoting the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP) as a way for healthcare facilities to transition to cleaner and cheaper energy. The program allows hospitals to purchase renewable energy from accredited suppliers without upfront infrastructure costs.
DOH Assistant Secretary Grande expressed how crucial renewable energy is for a sustainable and climate-resilient health sector.
“We are very excited about GEOP,” said Assistant Secretary Charade B. Mercado-Grande of the DOH. “We want to incorporate green initiatives at an early stage knowing that our operations are 24/7.”
Hospitals are significant energy consumers, and the healthcare sector’s carbon footprint is substantial. GEOP offers a way to address these concerns.
“Renewable energy is a readily accessible and increasingly cost-effective solution,” said Engr. Jephraim Manansala of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities. “The hydropower resource alone can harness more than our peak demand.”
The program not only benefits the environment but also offers hospitals financial advantages.
“Renewable energy has reduced the settlement price of electricity,” said Manansala. “GEOP allows hospitals to source 100 percent of their power from renewable sources without spending on infrastructure, significantly reducing their carbon footprint and achieving cost savings.”
Hospitals with a monthly peak demand of at least 100 kWh qualify for GEOP. The program also ensures hospitals have backup power from renewable sources in case of outages.
“We will ensure that the supply is there,” said Engr. Patrick Pondevida of ACEN Corporation, a GEOP supplier. “The renewable energy supplier should be responsible for replacing the power for our customers.”
The Climate Reality Project Philippines is helping hospitals navigate the switching process and learn more about the program’s benefits.
“Healthcare is the first focus sector,” said Nazrin Camille Castro of The Climate Reality Project Philippines. “We will be targeting tourism, telecommunications, and academic sectors in the future.”
With GEOP, hospitals in the Philippines have a clear path to a more sustainable and cost-effective future. (PIA-NCR)
