By Donnabelle L. Gatdula (The Philippine Star) Updated September 30, 2011 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Solar power is the only renewable energy (RE) technology that would allow homeowners to become power producers, Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) spokesperson Tetchi Cruz-Capellan said.
Interviewed on the sidelines of the PowerTrends 2011 Conference, Capellan said there are a lot of advantages of solar energy that Filipino consumers are not aware of.
The PSPA official made this statement in response to claims that RE, including solar power, would lead to an increase in power rates.
She said by installing solar kit in rooftops, individuals are empowered to generate their own clean energy, thus allowing them to manage and eventually reduce their electricity bills.
Based on actual experience, solar energy gives homeowners as much as 25-percent savings from their electricity consumption. These savings expand further as the price of electricity goes up.
The National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) revealed that in the last 10 years, electricity rates rose given the rising cost of fossil fuel.
Solar technology is modular and solar panels can be installed in small sizes like one-kilowatt, three-kw, and 10-kw, depending on the space available in the roof. It is easy to install and maintain.
Capellan said if 10 percent of rooftops in Metro Manila install solar energy systems, small power producers like homeowners, business, factories and malls can help Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) manage its peak load. Solar produces energy from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“The power supplied by solar during daytime allows it to add electricity when industrial and commercial establishments need power most,” she added.
Moreover, data from the Philippine Electricity Market Corp. (PEMC) show the high offers made by power generators when selling electricity in the daytime at wholesale electricity spot market. In February and September, the settlement price reached as much as P60 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) and P35 per kwh, respectively.
NREB revealed that once the feed-in tariff for solar is implemented, the zero-rated, priority dispatch policy in the RE Law automatically allows solar power to displace expensive electricity coming from diesel-fired power plants.
Based on simulation conducted by NREB, the infusion of 200-MW solar in WESM will moderate the bids of power generators and have a positive effect on electricity prices. Immediately, a P3 drop in price is expected with the entry of solar energy in the wholesale market.
Daytime is when electricity price is highest. Even with solar generation priced at P17.95 per kwh, Capellan explained, “it replaces the most expensive power sold during the day at WESM and cuts the bid in half.”
According to PSPA, scientific evidence provided by the University of Colorado reveals the country’s insolation and solar irradiation at 5.5kwh/m2 and 1700kwh/m2 per year, respectively. This places the Philippines second in the region. It means the country has the potential to tap the full power of the sun. The only challenge lies in utilizing the resource technically and economically.
Capellan noted there are 70 projects totaling 500 megawatt (MW) submitted to the Department of Energy (DOE) for solar service contracts. Each application offers technology and capital that will allow the Philippines to fully harness the power of sunlight.
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