How Fossil Fuels And Renewable Can Work Together

It’s long been known that fossil fuels, responsible for the inordinate amount of carbon emissions in the world, are among the biggest reasons behind climate change. Governments have responded accordingly by putting a bigger emphasis on clean energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydrogen.

The Philippines aims to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and increase its renewable energy usage to 50% by 2040. With some coal-fired plants being discontinued, renewable energy is being perceived as the new kid on the block poised to replace the old guard.

However, the real dynamic between renewables and fossil fuels is actually closer to a partnership, at least for the foreseeable future.

How The Transition Will Actually Look Like

In a developing country like ours, a differentiated approach to energy transition is needed. Fossil fuels will still play a vital role in addressing immediate issues such as power shortages in the countryside and disaster preparedness.

Renewable energy requires large investments, which is why it should be gradually integrated in the developing world rather than used right away as a main energy source.

This integration is important because renewable energy will also help in addressing these issues, especially since our tropical weather is highly conducive to wind and solar power generation.

How Renewables And Fossil Fuels Complement Each Other

In the Philippines, fossil fuels have been working hand-in-hand with clean energy in recent years. Some modern power plants are using hybrid systems that combine coal with renewables with the aim of providing an uninterrupted power supply.

This energy mix is a welcome development in a country that still struggles with limited power supply, especially during extreme weather conditions. Both renewables and fossil fuels each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but in a symbiotic hybrid system, one energy source can effectively support the other.

Advantages Of Renewable Energy

Renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar, and hydrogen are ever-present, which is why they are also called “sustainable” energy. There is no such thing as a solar energy crisis or a wind power crisis.

Most importantly, these energy sources are free. Unlike oil, they are not subject to market forces and volatile price hikes. So, when there is an oil supply shortage, renewable energy can serve as a good supplementary power source. 

Renewables can function as backup power when the main grid goes down. They can also produce surplus which can then be transferred to coal-fire plants for additional power.

Advantages Of Fossil Fuels

The strengths of fossil fuels complement renewables’ weaknesses well. Solar, wind, and hydrogen are variable renewable energy. They may not be subject to market forces, but they are dependent on weather conditions.

Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are quick-firing, which allows them to generate power quickly when renewables drop off due to specific weather conditions. In seasons when certain renewables are low, fossil fuels can still be relied upon to provide an ample power supply.

Cost Compatibility

There is perhaps no greater proof of the partnership between renewables and fossil fuels than oil companies investing heavily in clean energy. In fact, oil and gas companies worldwide have spent a total of 30 billion dollars as of 2023.

Fossil fuels and renewables are complementary even from a cost perspective, which makes it more feasible for our country to balance our power mix. Renewable energy infrastructure is more expensive to build than that of fossil fuel plants. But it is also cheaper to operate since it generates power from nature, unlike fossil fuel plants which feel the brunt of rising global oil prices.

In both the initial investment and operational expenses, one’s lower costs make up for the other’s higher costs, which makes budgeting for both possible. Clearly there is a financially viable path for a more balanced power mix in the country.

Laying The Groundwork For The Future

The most compelling case is still its practicality. Not only are we significantly reducing our nation’s carbon footprint, but we are also making our energy system more resilient in times of global crises or natural disasters.

In an ideal future, fossil fuels will be a thing of the past. But in our very urgent present-day challenges, it’s still an integral part of our energy needs. While we’re working on eventually phasing it out, it remains an effective means of phasing in renewable energy into our daily lives.