Marañon endorses 30mW solar power plant

BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines  - Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said he will endorse to the Department of Energy (DOE) the proposed 30-megaWatt (mW) solar power plant of a Korean-based company to be constructed at Brgy. Sto. Niño in E. B. Magalona town.

Youil Renewable Energy Corporation director Kenny Mah and regional manager Gregory Pliny Lofamia met with the governor at the Capitol Thursday to present and discuss the project, which is a new and renewable energy system solar and biomass power plant.

The power plant will be constructed in a 71-hectare property of Herminio and Francisco Maravilla in E. B. Magalona, said the governor, adding that the project, which the DOE would still approve, is similar to those in Cagayan de Oro City and Bohol province

Youil has begun discussing the project with local Negrense officials since the first of May this year.

The Catholic Church said it is supporting the solar power plant project which is expected to help improve the power supply in the province.

Bacolod Bishop Vicente Navarra had said it is environment-friendly, following the church's campaign for the use of this initiative and to convince the government to sponsor it.

In earlier reports, Lofamia said Youil can put up a 40-mW solar plant if they maximize the use of the land area, which he believes is more than the requirement of the municipality.

Lofamia said it will take about nine months to construct the power plant and, when done, it will operate from 6 a.m. to 6p.m. daily to provide immediate load needs for the Victorias Rural Electric Company and the people of E.B. Magalona.

"With solar power, you will start with a big capital but the return on investment will be recovered in 20 years and this will not be a burden to the consumers because of the Feed in Tariff policy," he said.

Lofamia said the cost of solar power will be lower than conventional power because it does not need fuel to produce power. After three to five years, solar rates will reduce by 5 to 10 percent, he said.

Lofamia said solar power is a proven technology and they installed a solar farm in Korea in 2007 and it now already operational.

In the Philippines, they have one solar farm in Cagayan de Oro that was installed in 2005 and is still operating, he said.