Published July 18,
2020, 2:56 PM by Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The National Irrigation
Administration (NIA) has cited its contributions to provide resources
for renewable energy, as well as maximize the utilization of irrigation
water through its existing systems and future projects nationwide.
NIA said that of the
total 379 potential sites for hydropower development, four are already
operational.
These are the
8.5-megawatt (MW) Magat River Irrigation System Main (South) Canal
Hydroelectric Power in Isabela, 1.0-MW Rizal Hydropower Plant in Nueva Ecija,
1.0-MW Bulanao mini hydropower plant (MHPP) in Kalinga, and
500-kilowatt (kW) Marbel #1 MHPP in South Cotabato.
While NIA encourages
this undertaking, one of the conditions it has set is that the project should
not, in any way, obstruct the delivery of irrigation water to farmlands.
On June 27, 2019, NIA
and SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) switched on the 200-kilowatt pilot floating
solar project on a 2,500-square meter area over the Magat reservoir on June 27,
2019 in Ramon, Isabela.
NIA said the project
design is inspired by the Amazon giant water lily and presents an opportunity
to generate clean energy while conserving precious land area that could
potentially serve other purposes, particularly for agriculture.
“Compared to land-based
solar installation, floating solar projects have less environmental impact
during construction. This is because there is no massive earth moving and
minimal use of heavy equipment,” it explained.
“The solar panels
installed over the reservoir can help reduce the amount of water lost due to
evaporation, which becomes particularly useful in times of drought and El Niño.
Similarly, the panels are intentionally spaced-out so that there can still be
enough sunlight that can filter through for fish and other organisms to grow,”
it added.
Aside from Magat Dam,
NIA said there are still other big dams in the country which can also be
installed with floating solar power plant, such as Pantabangan Dam and Casecnan
Dam in Nueva Ecija.
NIA has offered its
dams and reservoirs for water-based projects which can achieve the same purpose
of increasing power production while saving agricultural lands and providing
additional income to the government.
At the same time, NIA
ventured on solar-powered irrigation systems (SPISs) to replace expensive
diesel pumps.
It has already
completed a system in Barangay Pacuan, Malasiqui, Pangasinan to irrigate 25
hectares of cornfields.
NIA said the system has
five stations, each with 10 panels capable of irrigating three to five hectares
of agricultural land.
The technology consists
of solar panels, pumps, electronic pump controllers, storage tanks, and
conveyor systems.
It added that the
project is more cost-effective than the fuel-powered irrigation pumps due to
operation costs.
SPIS can last for up to
25 years as long as the solar panels are well-maintained. Only batteries, which
are locally available, have to be changed every two years.
In addition, NIA also
started the installation of the P3.557-million Isumbo Pump Irrigation Project
(Isumbo PIP), the first solar-powered irrigation pump in Barangay Isumbo,
Sofronio Española, Palawan.
The project
implementation commenced on May 29, 2020 after being awarded to the contractor,
Reinastar Trading and Construction Supply.
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