Solar panels power up Tigaon local radio station, HQ building

by Sarah C. Imperial June 15, 2016 (updated)

http://www.mb.com.ph/solar-panels-power-up%E2%80%8B-tigaon%E2%80%8B-local-radio-station-hq-building/

SUN ENERGY – Solar panels on the PDA headquarters’ rooftop in Tigaon, Camarines Sur

Tigaon, Camarines Sur – Last year saw the Partido Development Administration (PDA) start using solar power to help run its radio station, DZRP. It was a pioneering effort in the region, particularly on using renewable energy. The energy from the solar panels supplied 70% of the radio station’s power needs and reduced energy consumption.

This year, PDA harnesses solar power again, this time for its very own building in Barangay Caraycayon, Tigaon town.

Outgoing 4th District Representative Felix William Fuentebella, a staunch advocate of renewable energy, led the switching on of the solar panels in the PDA building. The lawmaker pushed for the installation of a 30-kilowatt solar photovoltaic (PV) system which consists of 100 pieces of solar PV modules, 4 inverter units, and four pieces of DC Isolators at the PDA building.

The renewable energy project is a joint effort of the PDA and the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH), Camarines Sur 3rd District Engineering Office under its 2016 Infrastructure Program. A part of the agreement is the retrofitting of the said office with energy efficient air-conditioning units with inverter and solar energy system.

The R4-million project is expected to generate savings of R500,000 every year. The building – which consumes 63kilowatthours/per hour – uses 30 to 50 percent of energy consumption derived from the installed solar panels. Because of the net-metering system, the power saved is used by the community, which in turn translates to money saved for the agency.

Rep. Fuentebella also invited the mayors of Partido to see for themselves the benefits of solar power which they can implement in their respective towns.

“Power cost spikes due to the utilization of expensive power plant generators. It happens when the demand for electricity is high. That is why we are encouraging big companies that when demand for power is high, do not get it from distribution utility, use a generator instead. On a bigger picture, it is the community that will greatly benefit from it,” the young solon said.

The Partido Development Administration is a government-owned and controlled corporation that is tasked with developing the Partido region of Camarines Sur.

Founded in 1994, the PDA is “a corporate entity tasked by Republic Act 7820 to oversee the economic development of the Partido area.” It has its own funding source and was empowered by this law to transact business, independent of the Camarines Sur provincial government.