The renewable energy arm of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) Spectrum is eyeing to double its installed capacity this year as more residential customers are opting for solar rooftop energy.
“We’re close to 20 MW already of installed capacity for Spectrum,” president and chief executive officer of Meralco unit MSpectrum, Inc. Victor S. Genuino, was quoted in a BusinessWorld report.
He added that expansion of microgrid facilities on Isla Verde and Cagbalete islands are also being planned.
“I think [for this year], we’re gonna aim to double. Some of it kasi are PPAs (power purchase agreements), ’di ba we have our existing PPA contracts, and then the others we will just add. So we’ll carry on the PPA for the following years,” he said.
“Maybe we wanna add an additional 20 MW this year. That would be good,” he added.
Meralco previously launched hybrid generating plants in Cagbalete, Quezon and Isla Verde, Batangas.
“We’re exploring a lot of different projects now. Think of it as anything off-grid,” Genuino explained.
“There are off-grid communities that still are unserved outside of our franchise area. There are different commercial establishments that don’t have access to direct power — resorts, for one, mining communities, agricultural farms. These are all target opportunities for microgrid,” he said.
Genuino expressed hopes of more industries would open in two islands once power supply becomes stable.
“I think this year we will see a lot more residential customers and small businesses adopt to solar,” he said. “We can go nationwide.”