by Myrna Velasco October 31,
2015
The Department of Energy (DOE) has
identified four government-underpinned institutions as “test-bed” for net metering
system that has to be anchored on solar rooftop installations.
This was indicated by DOE director
Mario Marasigan in a recent forum hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale (GIZ) as they explore hybrid renewable systems in powering up
marginalized domains, primarily the off-grid areas.
For the net metering pilot,
Marasigan noted that the targeted installations will be for state-run National
Power Corporation, Luneta Park, Lung Center of the Philippines and the
headquarters of the Philippine National Police.
These upcoming installations,
Marasigan said, will serve “as demonstration of large-scale net metering
concept.”
Net metering will provide for the
“prosumer set-up” in the country’s power system – because that will then
empower the consumers to produce their own electricity and sell to the grid any
extra that they may have.
This has been part of the bigger
policy realm prescribed for the RE sector – but in the multiplicity of
developments introduced in the industry – this is one area that has yet to move
notches ahead.
For the government institutions as
“proof-of-concept,” Marasigan noted that the PNP headquarters would be a
strategic undertaking.
In that, the energy department laid
down that two installations of more than 100 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic
(PV) rooftop will be pursued.
On a wider scale and as the policy
matures, the energy official has intimated that their expectation will be
greater number of end-users opting for solar installations and be part also of
the net metering landscape.
Prior to the realization of these
goals, several concerns are still being resolved in the net metering rules,
including connection fees as well as back-up systems for when solar will not
generate; as well as technology evolution that may be brought by battery
storage systems.
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