Dutch solar power provider mulls Philippine venture

Manila Times.net
Published : Tuesday, September 20, 2011 00:00 
Written by : Euan Paulo C. Añonuevo, Reporter


THE Netherlands-based SunConnex B.V. plans to put up solar power projects in the Philippines once tariff incentives for green power sources are approved.
JJ Samuel Soriano, Sunconnex president, said the company will put up $280-million worth of solar power projects with a combined capacity of 70 megawatts.


“We have applied with the Department of Energy for 70 megawatts and now we are inspecting more sites in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Soriano said.


SunConnex supplies photovoltaic or solar electric products and systems, and has branch offices in Italy, France, Spain and the UK.


The company plans to put up solar power projects in Laguna, Bataan, Pampanga, Cavite and Zambales. These projects, should they prosper, will be the company’s first in Asia.


Each project is estimated to cost between $3 million and $4 million per megawatt to put up or almost double the industry rule-of-thumb for coal-fired power plants.


Solar power, however, does not emit pollutive exhausts and takes only a fraction of the time to be put up.


Soriano said the company’s plan to put up such facilities in the country hinges on the approval of feed-in-tariffs for renewable energy projects.


The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 mandates the establishment of the FIT, which guarantees investor returns by passing on the costs to consumers.


“Sunconnex has been preparing and developing solar projects for the Philippines soon after the May 2010 elections and Sunconnex remains hopeful that the Philippine government will maintain stability in its policies to develop renewable energy including solar,” Soriano said.


Regulators are completing consultations on the FIT.


Industry players said the development of RE projects would not only result in a more sound environment but also in lower rates in the long run as green power sources would eventually displace the more expensive fossil fuel-based generating facilities such as oil and coal.