Philippines to Add 190 Megawatts of Photovoltaic Solar Power

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The Philippines' energy department approved seven photovoltaic (PV) solar power projects in 2011 that have a total capacity of 190.08 megawatts (MW) and a total investment of about $475 million. The Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) (Manila) reported that about 70 projects totaling 400 MW of capacity applied to the energy department.

The PSPA has requested the country's Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for a lower feed-in tariff (FIT) of $0.36 per kilkowatt-hour (kWh) for solar power development projects. This figure is $0.06 per kWh below the original request for $0.42 filed in May 2011.

Despite the lower FIT, the price of solar power in the country will still be double that in China, which is $0.16 per kWh for renewable energy.

The PSPA was motivated to request a lower FIT after the collapse of the global solar market and the resulting fall in the prices of solar panels. The new rate is still higher than the $0.24 to $0.28 per kWh, which is the level favored by the Philippines Congress.

The projects approved in 2011 include the 50-MW Pauquin-Burgos facility in Illocos Norte, which is being developed by Energy Logics Philippines of the Delgado Group, and another 50-MW solar project in Clark Freeport, which is being developed by Belgium's Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources Inc.

Youil Renewable Energy Corp (Seoul, South Korea) is developing the 30-MW E.B. Magalona project at the Negros Occidental project, and another 30-MW solar project is going ahead with developer ATN Philippines Solar Energy Group Incorporated at Rodriguez, Rizal.

There are also a significant number of smaller-scale projects now under construction.

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