Propmech brings light to remote barangays

MANILA, Philippines - For city dwellers, living without electricity is unthinkable. From sun up to sun down, practically everything they do is powered by electricity. Without it, their quality of life and livelihood would drastically change. It’s no surprise then that they complain to no end when a short power outage happens.

So imagine how residents of remote barangays live with no steady source of electricity or no power at all because power lines cannot make it to their areas due to terrains and distance.

Yes, they use kerosene lamps to light up their nights, a fire hazard that also produces climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions.

Others who could afford it rely on electric generators. But when electricity becomes available to far-flung homes, residents get to watch DVD movies for the first time, use electric fans, and read properly under a light.

However, their power comes from an unusual utility grid solar power. Through solar PV (photovoltaic) panels mounted on roofs or poles, the sun’s energy is harnessed and routed using an inverter, which provides power to home outlets.

These towns in Apayao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Agusan del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Masbate, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga City, and North Cotabato are part of the Department of Energy’s Rural Electrification Program.

In cooperation with the Alliance for Mindanao and Multi-Regional Renewable/Rural Energy Development (AMORE) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Propmech Corp. has implemented this program through its solar division, Green Heat.

Selected by bidding, local solar power provider Propmech offered the lowest price and showed expert capability and manpower to design and install the systems. Propmech is also engaged in marine engineering.

Throughout these provinces, over 600 barangays were “energized” using various systems tailored to their respective needs and specifications. Selected by DOE with the help of electric cooperative in the provinces, these barangays never had electricity before.

Today, homes in these barangays generate about 300 to 500 watts a day. Their residents now enjoy using CFL and LED lights and appliances such as radio, television, DVD player, and electric fans.

They use different solar home systems ranging from 20Wp to 300Wp (watt peak), demonstrating that solar PV as an alternative energy solution is applicable in a relatively smaller scale.

Through the DOE subsidy and payment plan, residents can afford the systems with prices ranging from P19,000 to P175,000, depending on specific requirements. Over time, homeowners recoup their investment and enjoy a level of energy self-sufficiency.

Introducing solar power to remote areas has made residents of these barangays enjoy a productive yet sustainable lifestyle.

To learn more about solar PV systems, visit www.greenheat-intl.com.