Solar developers gear up for power grid connection

MANILA, Philippines - Three solar power developers are seeking clearance to connect their solar projects to the country’s power grid to be able to receive incentives under the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme.

Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources Fourth Inc., San Carlos Sun Power Inc. (SaCaSun) of the Aboitiz Group and Bulacan Solar Energy Corp. have separately filed applications with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to build dedicated transmission facilities to link their projects to the power grid.

The three solar developers are aiming to be in the race for the FIT incentives, which include an assured rate of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour (kwh) for 20 years, among others.

Project proponents are given until March 15 this year to have their project running to be entitled for incentives.

Enfinity Philippines is building a 33.57-megawatt peak solar farm in Digos City, Davao del Sur, scheduled for commissioning by February.

SaCaSun is currently developing a 48.6-MW solar power plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental, targeted for commissioning by March.

Finally, Bulacan Solar is constructing a 25-MW power plant in San Ildefonso in the province, which is intended for commissioning in February.

The go-signal from the ERC to build these point-to-point transmission facilities is necessary for these solar developers to commission their projects and start delivering to the grid.

But at the rate its going, these firms may have a slim chance of getting FIT-Certificates of Commerciality since the ERC has set on March 9 the hearing for Enfinity Philippines petition, Feb. 22 for that of SaCaSun and Feb. 17 for that of Bulacan Solar.