Solar Pushed to Address Mindoro Power Woes

INSTALLING solar panels can help in solving the prevailing power supply situation in Mindoro, according to WeGen Philippines.

In a statement, WeGen said that households in the province can install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on their rooftop, connect all these systems and share to the grid the unused or excess electricity through the net metering program.

Net metering is a non-fiscal incentive provided under Republic Act 9513, or the “Renewable Energy Act of 2008,” which aims to promote the utilization of renewable energy (RE) in the Philippines.

Under this scheme, an electricity end-user who owns an RE facility with a capacity not exceeding 100 kilowatts can sell excess electricity to the distribution utility.

Charlie Ayco, president of WeGen subsidiary WeGen Laudato Si’, said this will stabilize the grid by reducing energy supply deficit.

“Instead of one large power plant to supply the electricity needs of Mindoro, hundreds of small solar installations that are integrated into one system through net metering can be built. This will remove concentration risk and it is more efficient,” Ayco said.

Ayco also emphasized the importance of getting the community involved in the efforts to improve the power supply situation on the island and the installation of solar PV systems can be done without additional financial burden to the local government unit (LGU) by accessing government loan facilities.

“The people of Mindoro can easily participate in the implementing solutions to the power problem on their island by calling on the local governments to sell or lease solar PV systems to residences and commercial buildings as a joint LGU-WeGen economic enterprise,” he said.

Ayco said LGUs should beef up their efforts to implement the provisions of Republic Act 11285, or the “Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act of 2019.”