Spectrum to build up solar portfolio

MANILA, Philippines - Spectrum is eyeing to build a solar portfolio of 300 megawatts (MW) in the next five years as it targets to put up rooftop installations and utility-scale projects within and outside the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) franchise area, company officials said.

The capacity is a working target for the newly-launched subsidiary which has just started to deepen its expertise in the solar industry, Meralco SVP and head of customer retail services and corporate communications Alfredo Panlilio said.

“It’s the working target but, of course, we are also still learning so it’s something new to Meralco. We’re hoping to accelerate the learning curve as we get more engagements,” he said.

To meet these targets, the solar projects would not be exclusive to the Meralco franchise, Spectrum president Jose Rainier Reyes said.

“Obviously we want to aspire to serve more customers, more Filipinos and we are also not limited to the franchise area of Meralco. Spectrum is nationwide,” he said. “And because we are able to tap in the greater geographical market, it will be aspirational to achieve our targets.”

Initially, Spectrum will target solar rooftop installations in commercial, industrial and even in household sectors that wish to reduce carbon footprint.

For this segment, the solar company is looking at a total capacity of 150 MW in the medium term, Reyes said.

“That’s our market. We’re targeting 150 MW for commercial and industrial rooftops,” he said.

So far, it has teamed up with Robinsons Land Corp. in specific projects among its 45 malls nationwide, with the first in Robinsons Place Novaliches.

“In fact, we are looking at two projects with Robinsons outside Luzon – Visayas and Mindanao and even within Luzon in (the) northern and southern parts,” Reyes said.

He said the company is also in talks with other malls for possible collaborations in the solar front.

Spectrum is also looking at around 150 MW of ground-mounted solar farms by collaborating with other solar industry participants, its top official said.