 |
The PV Solar Power Plant located at the back of the INEC main office in Dingras. The project is being constructed by the Bosung Powertec Co., Ltd & SPV & Bosungpower Philippines Inc. The said power plant will be owned by INEC in a 15-year build-operate-transfer scheme. (Doms dela Cruz) |
By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
Dingras, Ilocos Norte—Another solar power plant is expected to operate soon in this province.
The new solar power plant will be under the auspices of the Ilocos Norte Electric Cooperative (INEC) through a build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme.
Specifically a photovoltaic solar power plant, this project is being constructed by Bosung Powertec Co., Ltd. SPV and Bosungpower Philippines Inc.
INEC general manager Engr. Felino Herbert P. Agdigos said that the project will have a 1 megawatt peak capacity and is located at the back of INEC’s main office in this town.
Mr. Agdigos explained that the Dept. of Energy approved the project with a construction period of six months. He added that the project is now on its “finishing stage”.
The INEC official disclosed that several DOE officials recently inspected the plant.
Mr. Agdigos stressed that the DOE officials lauded the project as it would be the first time an electric cooperative would have its own solar power plant.
He underscored further that the project is very advantageous for INEC as this will greatly reduce their systems loss. The reduction would be due to the nearness of the power plant.
The INEC official however clarified that the power to be generated by the solar power plant would still go directly to the spot market.
“Financially, awan contract tayo kaniyada but physically, datayo iti mang-absorb diay production da ta datayo iti priority na. Ket daytoy production na a 1 megawatt ket umanay laeng a konsumo daytoysub-station ditoy Dingras ti aldaw lang kasi sa met la ag-generate iti power daytoy solar power plant no adda init ken lawag”, Mr. Agdigos said.
He also explained the process for the purchase of power
“Saan tayo nga agbayad kaniyada iti kuryente a gatangen tayo no di ket tay naki-kontrataan tayo a bilateral contractor tayo a supplier iti pagbayadan tayo”, he stressed.
The INEC official said the contractors have already set and fixed all the 3,200 photovoltaic panels. The switch gear power house construction is still ongoing.
He also explained the BOT scheme for this project. He said the project will be turned over to INEC in 15 years. He added that the contractors would not be charged with rent for the lot.
Mr. Agdigos also said that the Renewable Energy Law was strictly complied with and the two parties signed agreements on the Distribution Willing Charge (DWC), Metering Service Agreement and Connection Agreement.
Meanwhile, INEC board president Reynaldo M. Lazo said the solar power plant is beneficial and advantageous to all of INEC’s member-consumers especially those at the eastern part of Ilocos Norte for its power quality.
He also mentioned the advantage of owning the said power plant in 15 years.
Mr. Lazo also announced that the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources approved the cutting of trees that were affected by the project.
Bosung Powertec Co., is an industrial company engaged in the manufacture of electricity distribution and control equipment including relays and other industrial controls principally in South Korea and now has a branch in the country.
Solar Energy has two parts: photovoltaic and thermal. Photovoltaic technology directly converts sunlight into electricity while solar thermal technology harnesses its heat. These two technologies both tap the sun’s energy, locally and large-scale solar farms.
Photovoltaic was discovered by French Physicist Edmund Bequerel in 1839 and was first used in industrial applications in 1954.
Records show that one of the biggest solar power plants in South East Asia can be found in the country.
The solar power plant generates 132 megawatts in a 176-hectare land at Hacienda Paz, in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental and was developed by Soleq Holdings, a Singapore-based company.
One advantage of solar energy is it is a completely renewable resource. This means that even when it cannot make use of the sun’s power because of nighttime, cloudy and stormy skies, it can always rely on the sun showing up the very next day as a constant and consistent power source.