All-Filipino solar facility now powers Luzon

MANILA, Philippines - A most welcome development in response to the threat of global warming is the entry of a 100% Filipino solar power producer owned and operated by YH Green Energy Corp. located at the Leisure Estate, Hermosa Ecozone Industrial Park at Hermosa , Bataan. The project will make a significant contribution in meeting the power demands of the country by producing an environment-friendly energy alternative.

The 14.5-MW solar facility started delivery of power to the Luzon grid at 9:55 a.m. on Feb. 9. The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) have already began the process for the project to qualify for the feed-in tariff (FIT) program. After having been cleared by DOE and ERC as fully compliant, the facility will qualify for the FIT incentive rate of P8.69 per kilowatt-hour (kwh).

A testament to the Philippines’ commitment to shift to clean energy is the support that government agencies have given to projects like this. Power generation in the Philippines is predominantly produced by coal-fired plants. The risks associated to this type of power made it urgent for President Aquino and world leaders to come together in Paris for the Climate Change Conference where they collectively agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 percent by 2030.