RCE Ilocos - 2019

Location

Philippines
See map: Google Maps
PH
Renewable Energy Park Model for Education, Research and Extension Towards Agro-Industrialization and Inclusive Development
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Renewable Energy Park Model for Education, Research and Extension Towards Agro-Industrialization and Inclusive Development
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Ilocos
Contributing organization(s) : 
RCE Ilocos, MMSU
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Carlos Pascual
Organizational Affiliation: 
Mariano Marcos State University
E-mail: 
cmpascual777@gmail.com
Name: 
Shirley C. Agrupis
Organizational Affiliation: 
Mariano Marcos State Unviersity
E-mail: 
shirleyagrupis@yahoo.com
Format of project: 
Powerpoint
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Update
Additional resources: 
To conduct this project titled “Renewable Energy Park Model for Education, Research and Extension Towards Agro-Industrialization and Inclusive Development” in northern Philippines, the general objective of the pilot project is to develop a proof-of-theory concept system of R&D-based renewable energy park (RnE Park) as a “Live Laboratory” University Model to produce meaningful and showcasing an innovations from research, extension and development towards agro-industrialization and inclusive development on food-energy-water nexus. The specific objectives are:

1. To establish a feasible and viable RnE Park through R&D integration of biomass, hydro, solar and wind energy innovative technologies for a sustained, cleaner and greener agricultural productivity;

2. To strengthen MMSU faculty and staff to pursue 6P’s (product, publications, people and services, partners, process and policy) metrics deliverables on R&D under the Republic Act No. 10055-The Technology Transfer Act of 2009.

3. To create an interactive life-long learning RETs live laboratory for students, faculty, researchers, farmers, industries, collaborators and other stakeholders; and

4. To showcase the socio-cultural and techno-economic viabilities of RETs optimum designs, low-cost, efficient and life-cycle and impact assessment (LCIA)-based smart RETs model structures that sustain the promotion and development of institutional knowledge exchange, capacitation and development of sustainable partnerships.
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Philippines
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Marcos Avenue, Batac City 2906, Ilocos Norte, Philippines
Ecosystem(s):
Agricultural, Coastal, Dryland, Fresh water, Grassland, Urban/Peri-urban, Wetlands
Target Audience:
Higher
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
The proposed project will be a basis of innovative education, research and extension of development levels of development change. The development change is anchored on the effective and efficient quality of management operation especially in the implementation of the different projects and activities of the park through a multi-discipline, thematic areas and sectoral concern.
In particular, there will be a change in the way the key players and stakeholders interact while learning and experiencing the different kinds of renewable energy structures, designs and platforms. The park will serve as an entity of intellectual discourse highlighting exchange of ideas, insights, perspectives and experiences of those visiting and learning at the ground.
This will showcase a change in techno-socio-economic dynamism emphasizing on the social innovations and breakthroughs in science and technology. Furthermore, it will focus on the new dimension of socio-cultural trend in learning and well as teaching of clientele within a different environment.
All of these changes will be observed and further studied to combine the technical and socio-cultural aspect of the renewable energy park for all to benefit in this challenging new environment.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Research questions based on this understanding and knowledge generation of the pilot project are the following:

1. What are the influencing factors in the acquisition of new RETs for household and agro-industrial access of affordable renewable energy sources?

2. What is the condition of the different RETs models for productivity and profitability of specific commodity application?

3. What are the perceptions and responses of the served community members in relation to the establishment and operation of the renewable energy park? How is the RnE affecting the cognitive and affective aspects of individual holistic and integrated community development?

4. How to strengthen and sustain the RDE collaboration among industry partners and community towards sustainable service development?

5. What are the different knowledge and innovative products derived from the RnE in support to university-tourism hub development? How is the integrated university-tourism hub developed through sustainable RnE?
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
January, 2019
Rationale: 
Today, the world has recognized the importance of RNE for the survival of our planet and as a solution to the energy crisis fronting worldwide, like in the Philippines. The northern part of the country is endowed with natural resources, including abundant sources of renewable energy such as biomass, solar, hydro and wind energy (MMSU-ANEC, 1990; MMSU-ANEC, 1995; MMSU-AREC, 2016; Pascual, et al, 2018). One famous and the first in Southeast Asia is the wind farm located in Burgos, Ilocos Norte. The 150 MW Burgos wind farm is the first wind project nominated for the Philippine Government’s feed-in-tariff incentive scheme. The wind farm is expected to generate approximately 370 GWh of electricity a year, which used to power more than two million households, while offsetting approximately 200,000t of CO2 emissions annually.

In the present world, every country is giving important place on energy security and sustainable development; hence role of RnE had become ever more significant. Ensuring energy security, energy resources used in the country in the future need to be diversified. Also, to ensure the continuity of supply, energy mix needed rationalization considering important factors, such as economic cost, environmental impact, reliability of supplies and convenience to consumers.

RnE sources, such as biomass, hydro, solar, wind, ocean, thermal, currents, tides, waves, geothermal, etc., are being considered as possible sources of energy to meet these challenges. Biomass, solar energy and wind energy for instants are the Philippines’s most abundant permanent source of energy and are also an important and environmentally-friendly and compatible source of RnE.

However, such renewable energy potential needs continued science and technology synergy for academic, research for development, wide applications and awareness among higher educational institutions, like the MMSU and other stakeholders. Such RnE Park at MMSU will serve as an institutional University Model by CHED of a “live laboratory” showcasing renewable energy technologies (RETs) for educational acumen towards agro-industrial development (Masnave, 2012; Pers. Comm, 2018; SERT, 2018). Such is a first of its kind of a CHED-funded University Model of a “live laboratory” will serve for the different colleges and postgraduate programs of MMSU and other partners, communities and stakeholders. This RnE Park is a continuing support system of the newly created National Bioenergy and Innovation Center (NBERIC) which is mandated to generate renewable energy technologies for energy self-sufficiency (location at Appendix 1a; concept design at Appendix 1b). The NBERIC at MMSU is a government initiative upon the sponsorship of Sen. Win Gachalian and Sen. Loren Legarda. Furthermore, this RnE Park of MMSU will complement the potential of Fourth Industry Generation of Industry 4.0 and Education 5.0 to accelerate R&D on food-water-energy nexus and transition towards sustainable RETs for low carbon society towards enhancing agro-industrialization and inclusive management.
Objectives: 
The general objective of the pilot project is to develop a proof-of-theory concept system of R&D-based renewable energy park (RnE Park) as a “Live Laboratory” University Model to produce meaningful and showcasing an innovations from research, extension and development towards agro-industrialization and inclusive development on food-energy-water nexus.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
Project Framework

The RnE Park University Model will be pursued following mega-trends in the forthcoming future generations (Industry 4.0 and Education 5.0) and R&D-based RnE framework (Fig. 1) based on the following interrelated and holistic approaches:
• New and smart renewable energy technologies readiness for Education 5.0 and Industry 4.0 Generations;
• Multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary collaboration and partnerships in research and development for productivity on food-energy-water nexus;
• Encourage and support MMSU faculty and staff to pursue on the new 6P’s (product, publications, people and services, partners, process and policy) matrix for RDE program deliverables under the Republic Act No. 10055-The Technology Transfer Act of 2009.
• Shared service facility for academic, research and community services with strong support from MMSU and CHED;
• Community perceptions and responses on the construction of RnE Park;
• Enable technopreneurship/business model;
• Replicability of applications of RETs in the community
• Strategic university-tourism approaches to community development

Size of academic audience: 
200,000 students and farmers in the community
Results: 
1. An operational RnE Park as a “live laboratory” on new RETs such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass energy technologies on various innovative applications for people expert services of faculty and students (Postgraduate students of Master of Science in Agricultural Engineering/Soil and Water Resources Engineering, Professional Science Master in Renewable Energy Engineering, and undergraduate students at College of Engineering, College of Business of Economics and Accountancy, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Agriculture and Forestry for Sustainable Development) and researchers. Such set-up can be replicated in other SUCs in the Philippines; upscaling in intended industry and communities (of more than 500 households and more than 200 farmer cooperators of MMSU production farms) for more specific feasible and affordable RETs at national, regional and provincial levels; generating RETs energy mix and thereby offsetting much equivalent of tons of CO2 annually to be estimated;

2. An educational shared service facility for academic, research, extension activities for renewable energy on innovative, futuristic and higher impact niche of commercial product value of R&D outputs for agro-industrialization and inclusive development. Such set-up can be replicated and complemented in other SUCs in the Philippines; upscaling in intended industry and communities at national, regional and provincial levels;

3. A cadre of expert of RnE among MMSU faculty, researchers and students on smart RETs in partnerships with RET industries and other advanced HEIs at local and international levels;
Lessons learned: 
Some of the most important knowledge gaps in the field include the following:
a) Better understanding of the whole set of interconnections, trade-offs, crossed efficiencies and synergies between the FEW systems to better inform decision makers on technical choices and best strategies;
b) More concise and harmonized conceptual and analytical frameworks for the Nexus Approach, as well as formulas to deal with complexity and guide implementation;
c) More and better quality data, particularly on availability and use of surface and especially groundwater resources, impacts of hydropower on aquatic ecosystems, water use, consumption and impacts by the energy sector, among others;
d) Need for harmonized tools and methodologies for water and energy accounting;
e) Applied case studies to identify and account for trade-offs in the local contexts;
f) Policy and regulatory coordination; and
g) Social awareness and communication around the nexus.
Key messages: 
This is the first of its kind project for enabling low carbon society thru ESD. This project is an offshoot of the previous collaborative projects with the Dept. of Energy-Philippines since 1987 and importantly with the banner program of new President Dr. S.C. Agrupis on bioenergy and renewable energy for attaining SDGs thru ESD>
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
We hope we can share such to other RCE worldwide and other network of networks towards attaining SDGs.
Funding: 
CHED of Php5million only for 2 years.

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon RE_1_RCE Ilocos.jpg (100.91 KB) Capacity building of faculty and staff on renewable energy with trainers from Ashikaga University. Dr. C.M. Pascual
Capacity building of faculty and staff on renewable energy with trainers from Ashikaga University. Dr. C.M. Pascual
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 7 - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Direct
Theme
Agriculture 
Direct
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Ecotourism 
Direct
Plants & Animals 
Direct
Waste 
Direct
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
Yes