Community-based Renewable Energy System (CBRES)

Community-based Renewable Energy System (CBRES) was instituted when SIBAT, through its network members, embarked on a pioneering task of developing a 5 kilowatt Ngibat microhydro project in Tinglayan, Kalinga in January 1993. It has remained to date, the oldest yet functional renewable energy system providing electricity to 38 households with livelihood applications for rice milling, sugarcane juice extraction and blacksmithing.

It is a unique approach because it recognizes the lead role of the community - through its people's organization (PO), in collectively harnessing their local resource, cooperating to implement the technology, and actively operating and managing the system to support their primary needs.

CBRES provides direct benefits to rural communities by generating affordable electricity based on community needs (e.g., production and processing). It likewise promotes equitability and gender-sensitivity by ensuring that access and benefits accrue to the poorest and marginal sector including women, children and elderly. It similarly banks on and further strengthens community solidarity as well as indigenous cooperation and resource sharing. Local environment is enhanced, managed and protected by the PO's collective resolve.

Supporting the PO in their community endeavor are multi-agencies other wise known as stakeholders. A local NGO (or faith-based organization) acts as local facilitator during and after the project's establishment. The local government unit (LGU), as the local authority mobilizes additional support to the project and to the community through local administration.

SIBAT, as technical service provider, chiefly provides assistance in terms of site and resource appraisals, project studies and designs (e.g., PFS and FS), funding options or proposal development, technical supervision during implementation, organizational and technical capacity building, project monitoring and evaluation.

Currently, SIBAT offers a range of technology options and applications for CBRES including:

• Micro-hydro power (MHP) systems (e.g., 100 kilowatt and below) with applications for household electricity, public infrastructure and facilities, farm irrigation, and enterprise support through post-harvest milling and processing, carpentry, weaving, blacksmith and handicrafts.
  
  
  
• PV solar systems for communal irrigation and drinking water
  
  
• Small wind systems (e.g., 500 - 1,000 Watts) with Level 2 potable water distribution systems to households
  
  

Thus far, SIBAT has successfully installed 14 functional systems and is presently implementing 2 more MHP systems with a total generating capacity of 300 kW. These systems serve the electricity needs of 13 barangays and 8 sitios, directly benefiting 1,480 households.

Similarly, 6 remote indigenous communities have benefited from SIBAT's installation of solar-powered water pump facilities for potable and their irrigation needs.

Two communities with favorable wind regimes are likewise being served by small wind systems for potable water and battery charging applications. Additionally, a new 1 kW system is in progress meant not only for battery charging but with direct livelihood applications such as sugarcane juice extraction and milling.