THE Department of Energy (DOE) endorsed the solar project at the Gaisano City shopping mall in La Paz district, Iloilo City but it still needs a resolution from the City Council showing community acceptability as a requirement from the Energy Regulatory Commission.
DOE Assistant Secretary Mario Marasigan, director of the DOE renewable energy management bureau, said the project entails no spillover to the national grid but sent directly to the consumers who are stallholders of the shopping mall.
In a public hearing on Tuesday, October 11, at the City Council, Marasigan pointed out that the project proponent is to not engage in the retail market of power distribution but to pass through the competitive selection process to benefit the consumers.
The City Council resolution of acceptance is needed before construction of the solar project starts at the rooftop of the Gaisano City shopping mall.
The City Council committee on rules headed by City Councilor Eduardo Pearedondo and committee on energy and utilities headed by City Councilor RLeone Gerochi conducted a public hearing on the solar project of Gaisano City mall to determine the acceptability of the solar project of the Energy Development Corp. (EDC).
Earlier, EDC Program Manager Farah Ghasempour said the solar project, producing one megawatt power installed over the more than one hectare rooftop of the Gaisano shopping mall, is for the exclusive use of the Gaisano mall tenants and not to be sold to outsiders.
A power purchase agreement was signed last July 20 between the management of Gaisano City La Paz and EDC, a subsidiary of First Philippine Holdings of the Lopez-lead conglomerate to start the solar project for a 20-year contract on the more than one hectare shopping mall in Iloilo City.
Solar power is a low carbon technology that is sustainable and renewable power from the sun. It also requires low maintenance with no emission during operation. A typical solar project will generate power from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. everyday with no worry of power failure from the sun.
Aside from solar power, EDC is also producing diverse renewable energies like geothermal, wind, hydro by producing a total power capacity of 1,446 megawatt. As of now, EDC has 12 geothermal power plants, two hydropower plants; one solar and one wind power plants.