THE renewables arm of the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) has inaugurated a 200-kilowatt (kW) solar rooftop at the Commission on Audit (COA).
The project, which took five months to construct, was completed last month, following a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed between the COA and the PNOC Renewables Corp. (RC) in May last year.
The Solar Rooftop PV System was installed at the COA dormitory and the Professional and Institutional Development Sector (PIDS) building.
The inauguration marked the kickoff of the monthlong ninth anniversary celebration of PNOC RC.
“We are elated our fellow government agencies, such as the COA, are engaged in the development and implementation of renewable and efficient energy programs. It is evident that your initiatives are aligned with the PNOC RC’s vision and the government’s thrust in promoting renewable energy. We are grateful and we are proud to be working with another government agency that shares the same values and vision and we look forward to working with you as a long-term partner,” PNOC RC President John Arenas said. Lenie Lectura
Earlier, PNOC RC and H&WB Asia Pacific (Pte Ltd) Corp. said they are working on the first tidal- energy project in the country.
The ocean-power project, which will utilize Tidal In-stream Energy Conversion (TISEC) technology, will be located in H&WB’s three concession areas in San Bernardino Strait between Matnog, in the province of Sorsogon, and Capul and Dalupiri in Northern Samar.
H&WB had earlier performed an ocean-resource assessment to determine the overall energy potential of San Bernardino Strait. Moreover, it carried out a thorough review and analysis of TISEC technologies.
H&WB has tapped SABELLA SAS of France as the technology provider.
The Islands of Capul and San Antonio in San Bernardino Strait are in the Small Power Utilities Group (SPUG) fuelled by diesel power plants. Connection to electricity is limited, especially in Capul where its islanders have electricity merely for six hours a day.
H&WB wants to deploy tidal power because it is a green and cost-competitive alternative to fossil energies, and guarantees clean-power supply.
SABELLA and H&WB will put up a special purpose company within the first half of the year to commence project finance and engineering works, thereby, launching the first-ever TISEC power not only in the Philippines but in Asean as well.