VECO pushes use of solar energy

CEBU, Philippines - The Visayan Electric Company in partnership with a European company is making a big leap in power distribution as it pushes the use of solar energy among household and commercial consumers.

Sebastian Lacson, VECO chief operating officer, said the technology is already available to its consumers who wish to use solar panels.

Lacson said the technology will be provided by Enfinity, the sixth biggest developer of photovoltaic projects in the world and number one in Europe.

“For those of you who are interested, you can now avail of this,” said Lacson.

VECO, the country’s second biggest power distributor, said that using solar energy does not only protect the environment but also help conserve electricity.

According to Lacson, solar panels cost less than P150,000 and can provide at least 1,000 watts.

“Ang 85 porsiyento niini ginama sa recycled materials, ang solar panels taas kaayo og kalidad nga molanat ang kinabuhi og sobra sa 30 ka tuig,” as stated in VECO’s brochures.

It added that the one kilowatt peak (kWp) PV system can give 112.5 kwh of electricity per month, which is the reason why it can lower electricity cost.

Aside from this, the use of solar panels can also prevent the usage of 170 pounds of coal, 300 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 105 gallons of water and reduced ones carbon footprint.

“Ang paggamit sa solar di lang manalipod sa kalikupan, makatabang usab kini sa pagdaginot og salapi sa imong bayranan sa kuryente,” it added.

Meanwhile, VECO has recognized 23 establishments including the Cebu provincial government for its huge contribution in averting power shortage in Cebu by participating in the Interruptible Load Program.

“We have been having power shortages in the last couple of weeks and the reason we haven’t been feeling it because our ILP customers are very quick to react and provide the energy we need,” said Lacson.

It can be recalled that the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid, of which VECO is connected, was on red alert status from May 18 to 22 after three power plants with a combined capacity of 300  megawatt underwent emergency shutdown.

VECO said the cooperation of ILP customers averted possible rotating brownouts.

The ILP has been implemented by VECO since April of 2009 and has been of big help in addressing the power supply problem.

  Under this program, big power users under VECO’s franchise area, especially industrial customers, are requested to run their generating units to supply their power needs, instead of getting power from VECO especially during peak or emergency situations

For their huge contribution, ILP customers were given recognition dubbed as “Kasangga Awards”.

The awardees were AD Gothong Manufacturing Company, Aboitiz Equity Ventures,APO  Cement,  Ayala Center Cebu,  Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Elizabeth Mall, International Pharmaceutical Inc., J. King & Sons Company Inc., Lucky Group Management & Development Corporation, Oakridge Realty Development Corporation, Parkmall, Robinsons Land Corporation’s Cybergate and Robinsons Mall, SM City Cebu, Lucky Tableware Factory Inc., VICSAL Development Corporation’s Gaisano Metro Colon, Gaisano Metro Ayala and Super Metro Mandaue, Universal Feed Mill Corporation, San Miguel Corporation, Chong Hua Hospital, Casino Español de Cebu Inc., Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, Innodata’s Knowledge Services Inc., Coca Cola Bottlers Phils. Inc., and Cebu provincial government. — with Sherwin Oro Gabrinez/FPL (FREEMAN)