Proposed Mindanao solar projects could generate 500 MW

Business World Online
Posted on October 07, 2015 10:39:00 PM
By Carmelito Q. Francisco, Correspondent

DAVAO CITY -- Mindanao could have access to about 500 megawatts (MW) of solar power if all 31 projects now pending are approved and implemented, data from the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the Department of Energy (DoE) showed.

As of Aug. 31, the DoE has given the green light to 22 of the projects while the rest are still undergoing assessment.

Based on the data, nine of the approved projects are in south-central Mindanao, one in western Mindanao, six in the Northern Mindanao Region, four in the Davao Region, and one each in the Caraga Region and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Of the eight pending projects, three are in Northern Mindanao, three in south-central Mindanao, one in the Davao Region, and another in the Caraga Region.

Majority of the planned projects are small-scale with the smallest having a capacity of 2.5 MW and the biggest at 60 MW.

Among the big projects are Ark Green Dynamic Resources’ 60-MW facility in Claveria, Misamis Oriental and Lohas and Soul Lighting Inc.’s in Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

The potential of solar energy in Mindanao is huge, said Fortunato S. Sibuyan, chief of the Solar and Wind Energy Management Division of the Renewable Energy Bureau of the DoE, because “it is near the equator.”

Mr. Sibuyan was among the resource persons for an assessment of the southern island’s solar potential conducted by the International Renewable Energy Agency last week.

Romeo M. Montenegro, head of MinDA’s public affairs division, told BusinessWorld the agency is pushing to have all these projects completed within the next five years so that the power mix will not be tilted so heavily in favor of fossil fuel.

“We need these to be completed as soon as possible because by 2018, the power mix will be about 70% fossil fuels,” said Mr. Montenegro, citing the opening of several new coal-fired power plants in various parts of Mindanao.

At present, the power mix in Mindanao is still in favor of renewable energy because the two hydroelectric complexes in Agus and Pulangi continue to supply about 70% of the total power requirement despite their deteriorating capacities.

MinDA has established a Web-based one-stop facilitation center for green projects to shorten the application process as well as ensure that companies will not delay the implementation of their approved proposals. source