SunAsia Energy bags deal to install solar home systems in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — Local solar firm SunAsia Energy Inc. has bagged $1.91 million worth of contracts to put up solar home systems in parts of Mindanao under the World Bank’s rural electrification project.

World Bank issued the notice of award to SunAsia Energy under Plug the Sun consortium, which was selected from among local and international companies through a global selection process involving tedious technical and commercial review.

The project is under the Access to Sustainable Energy Project (ASEP), which is funded by the European Union (EU).

Under the ASEP terms of reference, SunAsia Energy will provide the technology and install solar home system to rural off-grid households, with each system designed to power six LED lights, a radio, flat-screen television, and mobile phones.

SunAsia will install solar home systems in partnership with Davao Sur Electric Cooperative (Dasureco) and Sultan Kudarat Electric Cooperative (Sukelco) for a contract price of $800,296.32 and $1.11 million, respectively, or a total of $1.91 million.

“The system was tailored-fit for the poor. Buying electricity requires no downpayment or minimum charges. In the local dialect, it is called tingi–loading depends on one’s capacity to pay. What they can afford is the only amount paid,” SunAsia president Teresa Capellan said.

The fund generated from the sale of electricity will be allocated to operate, maintain, and replace the solar home system.

SunAsia Energy off-grid technology was considered unique and innovative because of the cloud-based computing application allowing the monitoring of power supply and consumption in remote villages. This allows an online electricity procurement for the energy-poor communities.