ICC okays P500-M solar homes project

The Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) has approved the proposed P500-million Solar Home Systems Distribution Project that would provide electricity for selected off-grid areas in the country.

The project will be funded out of a grant from the Dutch government and will involve the distribution of solar power-generating equipment to participating households.

Finance Secretary Jose Isidro Camacho said the project will be undertaken by the Dutch government along with the Philippine National Oil Co. and Shell Renewables Phils., a subsidiary of Shell Phils. Inc.

Camacho said the project will cover the Ilocos Region, Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Southern Luzon, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).

Shell Renewables, Camacho disclosed, will provide the solar power generation technology, and the cost of implementation would be 60 percent funded by the Dutch grant.

The areas covered by the project are localities not connected to the existing power grids. Each solar home system, said the finance chief, is estimated to cost at least P15,000 in terms of installation and equipment cost.