Solar power proponents set target

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) is targeting 6.12 megawatts of grid-tied solar rooftop installations in the country by yearend as it continues to urge consumers to tap the potential of solar energy.

 â€œOur sector is making headway with the number of completed rooftop installations and the upcoming projects in the 2013 pipeline,” said PSPA founder Tetchi Cruz-Capellan.

She said as of end-December last year, the industry had some 1.12 megawatts of grid-tied solar rooftop installations in the country. This is expected to grow by another five megawatts this year.

 â€œThe sector is confident that with rising electricity cost due to increasing fuel prices, another five megawatts are set to be installed in homes and offices by the end of this year – that’s about 500 percent industry growth that the industry is looking at,” Capellan said.

PSPA is encouraging the use of solar power amid the rise in global crude prices.

In a press briefing yesterday, the Renewable Energy Developers Caucus (REDC) and the National Power Corp. formally announced the 2nd Philippine Solar Summit Exhibit and Conference to be held from Aug. 15 to 17 at the SMX Convention Center.

Capellan, who is also convenor of REDC, said the summit aims to bring together manufacturers and potential users of solar storage solutions such as do-it-yourself solar kits, inverters, monitoring systems and software, portable solar power source, solar lanterns and lighting systems, solar module, thin film, solar thermal, solar mounting systems and solar water systems.

“The industry response was overwhelming. It was clear proof that solar energy is gaining ground and the industry is fast developing,” she said.

Moving forward, Capellan cited the huge untapped potentials in the market, with roughly 285 megawatts, if the construction trend in the last three years will serve as basis.

 â€œThe approval of the interconnection rules will push for more renewable energy projects on rooftops, maximizing the potential for solar energy in mitigating rising electricity cost,” she also said.