The Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) slams  Aboitiz Power Corp.’s development of smart coal power plants for wasting resources on fossil fuels. The project began on May 31, in partnership with Thai company REPCO NEX Industrial Solutions.

The initiative, known as Project Arkanghel, aims to convert two coal-fired power plants owned by AboitizPower into smart power facilities to maximize their efficiency and minimize downtime. The “digital twins” will be created for the 300-MW coal-fired plant in Davao del Sur and the 340-MW plant in Cebu.

Artificial intelligence and data sciences will be used in the digital twin simulation to replicate the asset, according to reports. However, while the calculations needed for two coal plants do not require a supercomputer, it is still resource-intensive.

“This investment in coal technology does nothing to address the carbon emissions of these power plants,” said Ian Rivera, National Coordinator of PMCJ. “It is another false solution, like hydrogen and ammonia co-firing, that will extend the lifespan of coal power plants indefinitely. Aboitiz Power still holds one of the largest operating coal portfolio, next to San Miguel Corporation. This project Archangel is like an angel, in a bad sense, out there to extend the lives of these dirty, deadly, costly technology, defying the call of science.”

PMCJ believes that the project is a distraction riding on the hype for AI-powered technology. In line with this, Rivera reiterated the need to phase out coal in accordance with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s recommendations to peak fossil fuel use by 2025. This goes hand-in-hand with the COP28 agreement to triple renewables by 2030, which the Philippines signed onto.

“AboitizPower can hit two birds with one stone by investing instead in the development of renewables, energy storage systems, and smart grid technology,” Rivera recommended.

Smart grids can support the development of renewables. The technology enables real-time monitoring of environmental conditions and consumer demand, which allows RE power plants to optimize their generation and distribution of electricity.

“Fossil fuels should be phased out,” Rivera stressed. “We’re calling on energy companies to invest in real solutions to the climate crisis.”

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