Soleco puts up 1st picohydro power plant in Philippines

Soleco puts up 1st picohydro power plant in Philippines

Southern Leyte Electric Cooperative Inc. (Soleco) has put up a picohydro
power generation system, the first of its kind in the country, state-run
National Electrification Administration (NEA) said.

In a statement, NEA said Soleco's picohydro system, which started operating
in Aug. 12, utilizes tail water from the Hanabian Minihydro Power Plant and
generates power of up to 600 watts with maximum water flow velocity of 4.6
meter per second.

It has partnered with Helios Altas and DA Green Power Consultancy which also
undertook development of project feasibility studies.

Using the mechanism of a waterwheel, the picohydro system has an engineered
suspension system for easy mounting, making it one of the most adaptable
small-scale renewable energy (RE) technologies to environmental changes.

Soleco general manager Jonathan Empeño said the system is already
synchronized to the grid, allowing the electric coop to sell generated power
at a blended generation cost.

He said the approximate cost of picohydro system below five kilowatts (kW)
was $8,500/kW, while cost for five kW and above was estimated at $5,500/kW.
Cost includes engineering design, construction, equipment installation, and
commissioning.

According to DA Green Power Consultancy chief operating officer Regino
Galindes, the picohydro power generation system poses minimal modifications
to existing water systems as it uses a modular and scalable energy device
that can easily harness power from running water in rivers, irrigation
canals, and base of dams.

He added it only took two days to install the Soleco picohydro power system
and could easily be dismounted if there are warnings of flood or typhoon.

To keep the picohydro facilities in check, a remote monitoring device was
likewise installed in the system to prompt data and important alerts to the
central control system.

Soleco's use of RE technology is "consistent with the policy direction of
the national government to tap renewables and increase its share in the
energy mix," NEA officer-in-charge Sonia San Diego said.

"As an agency committed to the protection of environment, NEA, together with
its partner ECs, is pushing the frontiers in RE project development to help
position the Philippines as a world leader in the use of renewables," she
said.

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Ref:
http://www.philstar.com/business/2016/10/10/1631910/soleco-puts-1st-picohydr
o-power-plant-philippines

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com