First floating solar farm launched in Baras, Rizal

MANILA, Philippines — The first floating solar farm in the Philippines was commissioned on Sept. 27, on Laguna Lake in the municipality of Baras, Rizal.

The project opens up the possibility of utilizing solar energy beyond the traditional ground-based and rooftop-mounted systems.

The 10 kWp pilot floating solar farm of Winnergy Holdings Corp. aims to demonstrate the technical feasibility of floating solar technology in the country.

Floating solar technology involves deploying solar PV panels on the surface area of a body of water.

The technology has been deployed in many other countries, such as in Japan, China, and the United States.

According to Janina Bonoan, Winnergy president, one of the advantages of floating solar farms over ground-mounted solar farms is that no agricultural or forest lands are utilized and no trees are required to be cut.

Floating solar farms also mitigate water evaporation and the proliferation of algae in the lake, and may help aquatic/marine life flourish.

Bonoan added that the project also has the potential to improve the community, local tourism and the local economy.

She said floating solar farms are more technically efficient than ground-mounted solar farms because the cooling effect of the surrounding water on the panels makes the panels produce more energy.

The pilot project will provide free renewable energy to the municipality of Baras. It is equipped with a battery storage system that serves to ensure a sustainable and stable flow of power.

On Aug. 14, Winnergy, the municipality of Baras, and the Laguna Lake Development Authority signed a tripartite memorandum of agreement for the conduct of the pilot project.