Solar power producer aims for 20 megawatts in off-grid areas

Business Mirror

Published on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 20:15

Written by Paul Anthony A. Isla / Reporter

RENEWABLE-energy developer SunAsia Energy Inc., a solar-power producer, is looking to put up solar-power farms that can generate a total of 20 megawatts (MW) in four off-grid areas in the country by next year, Noel Carino, the company chairman, told reporters.

Carino said in an interview that they targeting to put up solar-power farms in Palawan, Aklan, Oriental Mindoro and Puerto Princesa.

For the four off-grid areas, Carino said, the installed capacity of each solar-power farm would vary from 2.5 MW to as much as 5 MW.

“These should be up by next year, the technology or solar panels are easy to install. The real challenge is on the financing requirements,” he said.

Carino said the initial 20-MW solar-power projects would mean an investment between P200 million and P400 million, with funding coming also from foreign partners and project financing from the possibly the Export-Import Bank of the United States.

Apart from the four off-grid areas, Carino said, they will also put up solar-power facilities in their own projects and projects of other development, as well as for big consumer groups that are off-grid.

Tetchi Cruz-Capellan, SunAsia president, said they have entered into bilateral contracts with the electric cooperatives and also with the other power providers that are currently operating in those four off-grid areas.

“The vision is really to help off-grid areas. They need the help. While everybody wants to focus on providing electricity in the main grids, we want to help the off-grid areas,” she said.

Carino said, “The good thing about our vision is that it fits the archipelagic nature of the Philippines. We have a lot of islands and some of them, if not most, are considered off-grid areas.”

SunAsia Energy is a renewable-energy developer and independent power producer. It brings the global expertise of its international partners in the field of rooftop installation and megawatt-size solar-power plant construction and operations.

The company offers and installs grid-tied solar starter kits for homes that can generate from 500 watts to 2.5 kilowatt; design and build grid-integrated commercial-scale solar rooftop solutions for businesses up to 100 kW; customize large installation, grid-connected solar rooftop systems, for industries above 100 kW; and deploy megawatt-size solar-power plants in partnership with distribution utility companies.

SunAsia Energy also promotes the use of solar technology to increase power-generating capacity and to provide energy access for all. SunAsia Energy has partnered with mp-tec of Berlin, Canadian Solar, SolarBridge, and Solarus Partners, Enzolutions Inc., among others.    source