BCDA taps foreign firm for solar farm project  

MANILA, Philippines —  The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is expected to award within the year the contract for the 25-megawatt (MW) solar farm it recently bid out.

“We did a bidding for a solar farm, and we’re just doing post qualification for the 25 megawatt solar farm. We already have a selected proponent, but subject to post qualification,” BCDA president and CEO Aileen Zosa told reporters on the sidelines of the BusinessWorld forum yesterday.

Without disclosing its identity, Zosa said the selected proponent is a big foreign company.

She pointed out that foreign firms are allowed 100 percent ownership in renewable energy.

Zosa said they are targeting to award the winning bid within the year, adding that the post qualification process will happen by the end of June.

In March, the BCDA launched the bid for the development of a solar farm with a capacity of at least 25 megawatts as well as the long-term lease of a 37-hectare property at the northernmost portion of New Clark City.

Zosa said around seven or eight firms purchased the terms of reference for the bid.

The BCDA emphasized earlier that foreign investors are also welcome to participate in the bidding for the solar project in New Clark City, following the easing of the foreign ownership restrictions on renewable energy (RE) projects in the country.

“Thanks to the efforts of the Marcos administration to implement policy reforms in the energy sector, foreign-owned companies are now able to participate in renewable energy projects in New Clark City without equity restrictions,”Zosa said earlier.

“This will open our bidding process to a diverse pool of competitive players from both the local and international RE industry, helping us accelerate the development of renewable energy sources in New Clark City,” she added.

In November, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued circular 2022-11-0034, which amended the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008.This removed the nationality restrictions imposed on businesses engaged in the exploration, development and utilization of renewable energy sources, thereby allowing 100 percent foreign ownership in the industry.

As a result, the BCDA expects more local and international developers to participate in renewable energy projects in New Clark City, including its proposed large-scale solar power plant to be located in the northernmost portion of the rising metropolis.