In its mills, sugar and renewable energy go hand in hand as bagasse, the dry pulpy fibrous material that remains after shredding and crushing sugarcane, is used to produce power. This sugarcane waste contains cellulosic fibers with almost 50 percent moisture content, making it a good source of fuel due to its high heating value.
“This addresses the age-old practice of burning cane trash in the fields which is in violation of the Clean Air Act ,” he said.BANKING ON BAGASSE Negros Occidental has shown how a native industry—sugarcane—can go hand in hand with renewable energy development. Pictured above are two local biomass plants: San Carlos BioPower in San Carlos town , which has a generating capacity of 20 megawatts; and South Negros BioPower in La Carlota, which can produce 25 MW.
Incumbent Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson signed Executive Order No. 23-16, Series of 2023, creating a provincial Just Energy Transition council which was tasked to coordinate the preparation and implementation of the transition to renewable energy program.Amid growing concerns about unreliable power and high electricity rates in the province, Lacson said a Provincial Power Sector Study Group was commissioned to conduct a Negros Occidental Power Sector Assessment Study .
“But the biggest challenge that stands before us now is how do we ensure that the installed RE capacity in the province is enjoyed by Negrosanons and that should reflect in the price, quality and cleanliness of the energy we are using,” he said.“I believe that our province is in the right direction. Since the policy of former Gov. Alfredo Marañon on the ban on coal and focusing on developing RE, Governor Bong’s continued effort on clean and sustainable energy.