Energy authorities in the Philippines have called on the international community to donate inverters and batteries to help set up solar energy supplies, as the country struggles to get back on its feet in the wake of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan.
The typhoon struck just over a month ago, leaving almost 6,000 people dead. A further 1,800 are still missing.
Pete Maniego, chairman of the Philippines National Renewable Energy Board, was talking in Bangkok at the recent Solar Energy Southeast Asia conference.
He told PV Tech: “We need all the help we can get to restore the devastated areas to normality. We can't move on without power and we think the best way to achieve this is through solar, because solar can be deployed very quickly.”
He said 1MW of solar panels had already been donated by Bert Lina of the Lina Group of Companies, and now the priority was to source inverters and batteries.
Dante Briones, president of the Philippines Solar Power Alliance, who also a spoke at the Bangkok conference, added that there was also a great need for solar lamps, to allow more work to be carried out at night.
Donations of the lamps or cash, can be made to the charity Habitat for Humanity or by contacting Dante Briones via email: dantebriones@gmail.com
Anyone able to donate inverters or batteries, should contact Pete Maniego via email: phmaniego@gmail.com
