NEA installs solar home systems in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines — State-run National Electrification Administration (NEA) is installing solar home systems (SHS) in 10,000 households in Mindanao next month as part of energizing communities situated in far-flung and remote parts of the region.

The installation of photovoltaic (PV) mainstreaming system in 5,000 households are located in coverage areas of Cotabato Electric Cooperative Inc. (Cotelco) and South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. (Socoteco II) in the first phase and another 5,000 households in Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative Inc. (Dasureco) and Sultan Kuldarat Electric Cooperative Inc. (Sukelco) in the second phase.

NEA’s Office of Renewable Energy and Development (ORED) head Ernesto Silvano said SHS is a viable option for dispersed households located in rural and remote areas that are too far or have no access to the electricity grid.

“For dispersed households that cannot be connected to the grid, this is the option. This is in line with the NEA’s Strategized Household Electrification Program (SHEP), which is concentrated on off-grid,” he said.

ORED initiated SHEP three years ago, but the program only took-off during the leadership of NEA administrator Edgardo Masongsong through grant aids.

The PV mainstreaming is an initiative of the Department of Energy (DOE), funded by the European Union - Access to Sustainable Energy Program (EU-ASEP) through World Bank. NEA, which has supervision over all the electric cooperatives across the country, is the implementing agency.

The project is divided into two bidding windows. Window 1 involves 10,000 SHS units while Window 2 involves 30,500 SHS, the procurement process of which is undergoing finalization.

Electrification data show there are 19,740 sitios across the country that are still without access to electricity with 1,702 identified as “off-grid,” which are found mainly in Mindanao with 1,003, followed by Visayas with 557, and Luzon with 142.