Clark hosts P11.75 B solar power project

By Richmond S. Mercurio (The Philippine Star) | Updated December 10, 2015 - 12:00am
http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/12/10/1530884/clark-hosts-p11.75-b-solar-power-project

MANILA, Philippines - State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has secured P11.75 billion in investments for Clark Green City that would provide a clean energy source to the country’s first disaster-resilient and green city.

BCDA said yesterday it signed a lease agreement with Sunray Power Inc. (SPI) for the lease of a 260-hectare area in Clark Green City to build a 100-megawatt (MW) solar power facility worth P11.75 billion.

“We look forward to the long-standing partnership with SPI to provide clean and renewable energy not only to Clark Green City but also to the neighboring areas in Central Luzon,” BCDA president and CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova said.

He said BCDA would receive annual lease payments and shares in the revenues of generated power from the project.

Aside from the two-year investment, SPI has also committed to employ 1,000 workers during the construction period and at least 250 workers during operations of the solar project, the BCDA reported.

Casanova said the use of renewable energy such as solar power to energize Clark Green City is part of BCDA’s commitment to address the effects of climate change and global warming.

“We are very mindful of the impact of climate change in the Philippines and there is no other recourse but to adopt renewables as the main source of energy to power Clark Green City,” Casanova said.

SPI is a Philippine corporation formed to develop, construct and own utility-scale power generating facilities for the production, generation, sale and storage of electricity harnessed from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and waste-to-energy technology.

BCDA last July also signed signed a lease agreement with SSR C-Solar Power Inc. to establish a solar farm in Clark Green City capable of generating 20 MW of electricity.

BCDA said SSR C-Solar Power committed to invest about P1 billion for its solar energy project within the next two years.