Philippines: Former DOE chief predicts success of Pamilacan solar project

Philippines: Former DOE chief predicts success of Pamilacan solar project

Former Department of Energy (DOE) Renewable Energy Management Bureau chief
Jesus Layug Jr. predicts the success of Pamilacan Island's solar power.

Speaking during the turnover of the P10 million energy power to serve eight
more hours of daytime requirements for the 329 households in this green
tourism island, Layug recounts that projects without the community owning it
is doomed to fail,from the start.

But, change has come in Pamilacan through WeGen Distributed Energy
Philippines.

A new player in clean energy development in the country, WeGen donated P10
million worth of facilities that would bring additional eight hours of power
to residents in an off the grid island in Bohol.

And while private companies would call this a part of their corporate social
responsibility (CSR) WeGen calls it corporate social immersion.

Chief Executive Officer Atty. Julito Sarmiento said WeGen, who need not make
a profit to start a project, said all they need is for the community to put
up the effort to own the project.

And the community has over P10 million reasons to do so, said Pamilacan
Barangay Chairman Crispo Valeroso.

WeGen's P10 million solar energy facility comprises of 135 photo voltaic
panels, 60 power storage batteries, inverters, coils of networking wires,
metal purlins and construction materials to retrofit the roof of the
Pamilacan National High School for the panels to be attached.

All of the hardwork from the loading of the panels, batteries and the
construction materials to the hilltop location of the school from the bocks
entail labor components which the community puts up, Valeroso said.

Put in Pamilacan, the solar energy capable of producing 39KW peak of solar
photo voltaic energy is practically a zero maintenance free source,
according to WeGen Philippines.

"Compared to a coal fired plant which has moving parts, a solar facility
does not even need much maintenance other than battery replacement after 6
years," Sarmiento said.

Set up to complement the power supply served by the island's diesel
generator component of the Small Power Utility Group (SPUG) which provides
power from 6PM to midnight, the new facility allows power use from 8:00 AM
to 4:00 PM.

This is enough for teachers to supplement their classes with video
presentations, while fishermen can have their daily catch refrigerated and
the Barangay Health Center can now keep vaccines in cold storage, WeGen
added.

While Pamilacan collects P18.00 per kilowatt of diesel generated power
service, residents who have worked to keep the project have agreed to
contribute to a solar trust fund to be collected by their local Electric
Cooperative Association (ECA).

Although WeGen did not ask for it, residents said they are putting up the
fund for repair, maintenance and other future expansions.

This is an indicator that the community, which have become not just
consumers but producers of energy through the facility, now owns the
project, and Layug's prediction may have some truth in it.

By future expansions, the ECA plans to get more solar panels to increase
capacities and get the solar service working from midnight onwards.

While power use at night is more extensive, complementing the diesel power
generator between midnight to morning where usage is also limited my ease
the islanders' inconvenience and usher to them decent lives.

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Link to Original Article:
http://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1101496026177

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com