Published September 9, 2018, 10:00
PM By Bernie
Cahiles-Magkilat
Solar Para Sa Bayan, a personal
venture of Solar Philippines’ owner Leandro Leviste, is investing up to P2.4
billion to power up 12 poor towns in the country without any government
subsidy.
Leviste, who spearheads the solar
energy technology in the Philippines and has now the largest solar
installations in the country, said they are implementing the investment in
phases as consumption grows over the initial months of electrifying a town.
Once fully constructed, the average
minigrid should cost P100 million to P200 million although the costs vary
depending on the size, and some can indeed be much smaller, hence the term
“minigrid.”
A minigrid is an integrated system
that can operate independent from the main grid. Each community can have its
own minigrid, to achieve the lowest cost and highest reliability. The 12 towns
are all already electrified or will be electrified within the next 30 days.
Solar Para Sa Bayan is bringing 24/7
power to 12 towns in provinces including Mindoro, Palawan, Masbate, Cagayan,
Aurora, the first time so many will get electricity at zero cost to government.
It aims to bring 24/7 power to 500,000 Filipinos by the end of 2018.
“We have already established
minigrids in Paluan and Lubang, Occidental Mindoro; Dumaran, Palawan; Claveria
and San Pascual, Masbate; Calayan, Cagayan; and Dingalan, Aurora. We will
announce the other towns by the time we complete those projects,” Leviste said
in a statement. The solar-battery minigrids will not only benefit 200,000
Filipinos in 12 towns, but create healthy competition that benefits consumers
across the country.
“If the mere specter of competition
inspires electric utilities to improve their services, that is an affirmation
of the need for healthy competition. If the entry of companies like us will end
the complacency of incumbent monopolies, then our mission is accomplished,”
Leviste said.
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