PNOC-RC to pursue various renewable projects

MANILA, Philippines — PNOC-Renewables Corp. (PNOC-RC), the renewable energy arm of state-run Philippine National Oil Co., plans to pursue various renewable energy projects next year, its president and chief executive officer John Arenas said.

Arenas said one of the projects PNOC-RC is looking to develop next year is a waste-to-energy plant in Baguio.

“Among our proposed projects for 2023 is the Baguio waste-to-energy. It will be the first of government,” he said.

PNOC-RC and the local government unit of Baguio in 2019 signed a memorandum of understanding to support waste-to-energy development and sustainable solid waste management of the city.

PNOC-RC has recognized the potential of waste-to-energy as one of the solutions to solid waste problem.

Aside from the waste-to-energy project, Arenas said other renewable energy projects eyed for development by PNOC-RC next year are a one-megawatt (MW) hydropower plant in Pangasinan, a five-MW floating solar PV project, and a two-MW project for government agencies.

PNOC-RC and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in 2018 inked a memorandum of agreement for the development and implementation of the one-MW Agno River Irrigation System (ARIS) mini hydropower project in San Manuel, Pangasinan.

The hydropower plant is seen utilizing the potential of ARIS to generate clean energy.

PNOC-RC has a 10 percent stake in the 32-MW Maibarara geothermal plant in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and also a 50 percent stake in a one-MW Rizal hydropower plant in Nueva Ecija.

It also provided technical services such as preparation of technical study and assisting in bidding activities for the House of Representatives for a 200-kWp solar PV rooftop project.

The project, which involved the installation of 436 solar PV modules at the South Wing Annex building of the House of Representatives, was inaugurated in May.

The solar PV facility is expected to generate up to 265,200 kWh per year which is also equivalent to 115 metric tons of carbon dioxide avoided.

The Governance Commission for Government Owned and Controlled Corporations had earlier sought for the abolition of PNOC-RC due to its continuous losses.

In 2020, Arenas said the company submitted to the Senate energy committee a “turn-around” plan to wipe out losses by 2023.