Belgian firm powers up its solar project’s host community

by Myrna Velasco October 24, 2015                                                                   

Enfinity Philippines, the local subsidiary of Belgian solar firm Enfinity N.V., is advancing the portended benefits of its “social contract” with the host community of its 50.55-megawatt solar power project in Concepcion, Tarlac.

The municipal hall of Concepcion had been installed with a solar panel of 10-kilowatt (kW) capacity that is capable of powering up eight window-type airconditioning system.

In addition, the barangay offices covered by the municipality of Conception “will be installed with 3.0kW solar panels each,” Enfinity said.

The installation of solar panels in these localities could be considered a “test bed” of how the technology could work for the benefit of the consumers.

The Belgian firm has emphasized that “the municipal government of Concepcion, Tarlac will be one of the first local government units in the country to adopt the use of solar energy in its facilities.”

According to Concepcion Mayor Andres Lacson, their newly installed solar power systems would redound to pared budget in their electricity bill payments.

“This translates to savings in electricity bills of about P14,000 a month or P168,000 per annum at the city hall and approximately P4,000 per month or P48,000 per year at the barangay hall,” the local chief executive has emphasized.

The Concepcion solar project commands a capital outlay of P3.6 billion and is set for completion around tail-end of 2016.  This is just one of the planned 100 megawatts of solar development portfolio under Enfinity’s sleeve.

William Ruccius, business development director of Enfinity Philippines, has intimated that bringing the actual use of solar power at local government levels could help efface lingering misconceptions that such technology could be an expensive option.

In fact, he stressed that “in reality, it (solar technology) is at grid parity in half the countries in the world today.”

Ruccius added “the technology is improving so fast that people are not aware of what has happened and how quickly solar will transform the way electricity is generated, delivered to the customer and integrated with transportation over the next decade.”

Meanwhile, Concepcion vice mayor Danilo David has noted that “the LGU installation aims to educate Filipinos on the feasibility and benefits of using renewable energy for households and offices.”