THE Department of Energy (DoE) is exploring how to predict the country’s load profile due to the expected significant shift in major electricity consumers.
DoE Energy Policy and Planning Director Michael O. Sinocruz said at a forum in Makati City on Thursday that per capita electricity prospects are expected to rise.
“Based on the projection, there will be a significant shift around 2040 or before 2040 where the largest user of electricity will be industry, based on the government’s development plan… no longer households, but rather industry,” Mr Sinocruz said. said.
“We are looking at whether we need to study further because if industry becomes the largest consumer of electricity, there will be a change in the load profile of the country. That means there will be more factories running 24/7,” he added.
Mr Sinocruz said the country may need more baseload capacity if the industrial sector is to take the lead as the largest energy user.
“My team is now studying how to predict the load profile based on changes in electricity demand by different sectors,” he said.
DoE data shows that residential customers consumed 36,968 megawatts (MW) in 2023, more than the commercial and industrial sectors which consumed 26,236 MW and 29,493 MW respectively. — Heroes Joy Talavera