Philippines: Solar power firms seek industry framework

Philippines: Solar power firms seek industry framework

The Confederation of Solar Developers of the Philippines (CSDP) is seeking
inputs from the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) for its framework for
the solar industry before submitting it to the Department of Energy (DOE),
its top official said.

The solar developers' group will meet with newly-appointed NREB chairman Jay
Layug tomorrow, CSDP president Reynaldo Casas told The STAR.

The consultation with NREB will allow CSDP to improve its framework, which
will be submitted to the DOE, Casas said.

As it stands, the solar industry is hanging because of controversies
surrounding the second round of FIT for solar (solar FIT-2) that resulted in
over 300 megawatts (MW) of stranded projects to which solar developers have
been asking the government to include the overcapacity in the FIT system.

FIT is a set of incentives given to power developers for a period of 20
years to invest in the more expensive renewable energy sector.

Because of this, Casas said some developers and engineers have opted to seek
opportunities elsewhere like in India or Indonesia.

To get the solar industry back on track, CSDP has been crafting a concept of
auctioning in place of the third round of FIT.

DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier said he was not keen on expanding the FIT
system for solar and wind into the third round since it only adds burden of
paying more to consumers.

"The positive thing is the DOE has formed a committee so we will talk to
only one entity. The ERC is also looking to do the same," Casas said.

The DOE has formed an investigating committee to thoroughly study the
implementation of the solar FIT-2 following complaints lodged by solar
companies.

CSDP was formally launched in December with pioneering members consisting of
key solar developers with a combined capacity of 543 MW equivalent to P45
billion worth of investments.

Co-founders include Aboitiz Power Corp., Bronzeoak Philippines, Energy
Development Corp., Equis, nv-vogt, Solar Pacific and Solar Philippines.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/01/15/1662665/solar-power-firms-seek-i
ndustry-framework

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com