By Lenie Lectura
THE Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is currently evaluating solar-power projects that are entitled to the feed-in tariff (FiT) rate of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
ERC Commissioner Jose Vicente B. Salazar said in a news briefing that 13 solar-power projects, with a total capacity of 360.41 megawatts (MW), are up for inspection. These will be thoroughly evaluated to determine if the projects would push through because “only those that are up and running can avail themselves of the FiT.”
FiT is the per-kWh rate guaranteed to renewable-energy (RE) developers to ensure the viability of their projects. Consumers will be the ones who will shoulder this under the FiT-allowance, a separate line component in the power bills.
Customers are currently paying an additional P0.0406 per kWh.
The FiT rate for solar technology had been adjusted to P8.69 per kWh, from the original P9.68 per kWh, after the capacity allocation was hiked to 500 MW from 50 MW.
Based on the ERC list, the following solar-power projects are up for inspection:
- the 13.4-MW RASLAG Phase-2 project
- the 132.49 MW of Helios Solar Energy Corp.
- the 58.98 MW of San Carlos Sun Power Inc.
- the 10.5 MW of Asian Greenenergy Corp.
- the 2.66 MW of EDC Burgos Solar Phase 2.
- 32 MW of Mirae Asia Energy Corp.
- the 50 MW of PetroSolar Corp.
- the 30 MW of ATN Philippines Solar Energy Group Inc.
- the 14.5 MW of YH Green Energy Inc.
- the 3.82 MW of Solar Powered Agri-Rural Communities Corp.
- the 5 MW of Solar Powered Agri-Rural Communities Corp.
- the 18 MW of Negros Island Solar Power Inc.
Based on the list, the 500-MW capacity allocation could not be filled up as the current list indicates only 360.41 MW of solar-power projects lined up.
“It can’t reach 500 MW as of now, and we still have to evaluate these if all of them are pushing through,” Salazar said.
The solar FiT rate of P8.69 per kWh shall apply prospectively until the 500 MW have been availed of, or until March 15, whichever comes first.