Business mirror
MONDAY, 07 FEBRUARY 2011 21:16 PAUL ANTHONY A. ISLA / REPORTER
IF plans don’t miscarry, the Philippines will have in the next three years solar photovoltaic (PV) systems capable of generating 350 megawatts (MW).
This, according to the Philippine Solar Power Association (PSPA) president Tetchi Cruz-Capellan. She told reporters the PSPA aims to generate 95 MW this year, 125 MW next year and 130 MW in 2012.
Capellan said she was hopeful the government would finally be able to implement this year the feed-in tariff (FIT), which guarantees renewable-energy developers a fixed rate due them over a period of time.
She said the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) has committed to submit the recommended FIT to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) not later than March 31.
Given the 90-day review process of our regulators, Capellan said, the industry believes FIT will be in place no later than June 30.
Capellan said solar energy is the only renewable-energy technology that could be deployed in a shorter lead time or in less than a year, compared with other technologies that take a minimum of two years before they become operational.
Capellan also said she is hopeful the ERC regulators would release the FIT guidelines for the National Power Corp.-Small Power Utilities Group (Napocor-Spug) areas.
Capellan said these places will benefit most from FIT because solar-electricity rates can be competitive in these areas in comparison with power prices generated by diesel-operated power plants. “Through FIT, investments will flow into these places, and economic productivity is expected to improve,” she added.
Capellan also said a micro-FIT for homes could reduce demand pressures from the grid.
No comments:
Post a Comment