700-kW solar rooftop to start operating soon

Business World Online
Posted on September 18, 2014 09:54:00 PM

A RENEWABLE energy developer is set to start commercial operations of a 700-kilowatt (kW) solar rooftop project that will provide electricity to a shopping mall in Laguna.
In a statement on Thursday, Solar Philippines Rooftop Projects, Inc. said it will launch the solar project in Central Mall in Biñan on Saturday.

Premiumlink Development Corp., the operator of the mall, tapped Solar Philippines to design, construct and install the project.

“Under a power purchase agreement, the energy generated by the solar power plant is sold to the establishment for its own consumption, at a rate lower than the usual electricity rates in the area,” the statement read.

The power project is expected to supply around 30% of Central Mall’s total energy consumption -- which would lead to savings amounting to more than P100,000 every month.

The solar facility will occupy 700 square meters of roof space. It has 2,514 solar panels on steel mounting structures.

“The Central Mall Biñan Solar Rooftop Project marks many firsts for renewable energy in the Philippines,” the statement read.

“It is the first solar project granted loan financing by one of the country’s biggest banks, the Bank of the Philippine Islands,” it added
Solar Philippines finances solar installations at zero upfront cost. The company designs, engineers, constructs, installs and maintains large-scale rooftop projects.

The company also has a presence in Palawan and Roxas City.
It recently secured a contract to develop a 1.5-megawatt (MW) solar facility in Quezon City.

Apart from Solar Philippines, eight other firms bagged contracts to proceed with their solar projects across the country.

Two projects will be developed in Bataan -- Next Generation Power Tech Corp.’s 20-MW plant in Mariveles and BWST, Inc.’s 150-MW plant in Orani.

A 3-MW plant is planned by Solar Pacific Energy Corp. to power parts of El Nido in Palawan, while San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. will build an 18-MW solar facility in La Carlota, Negros Occidental.

A 50-MW plant is also being planned by Sulu Electric Power & Light (Phils), Inc. at a site straddling the municipalities of Tacloban, Sta. Fe and Palo in Leyte province.

Enfinity Renewables, Inc. secured contracts for three 10-MW projects -- two of which will be located in General Santos City, and one in Polomolok, South Cotabato.

A 12-MW plant will be built by Asian Greenergy Corp. in Kibawa, Bukidnon; while Cagayan Electric Power & Light Company, Inc. will have a 20-MW facility in Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental. -- Claire-Ann Marie C. Feliciano source