Aboitiz Group’s renewable energy arm SN Aboitiz Power, Inc. (SNAP) is pioneering on a floating solar technology at Magat Dam in Ramon, Isabela.
The project will be SNAP’s first solar development , but plans are also afoot to develop more solar power projects in the future.
According to SNAP, the floating solar project is a feasible, quick-to-install alternative to land-based solar as it does not require land conversion, as reported by the Manila Bulletin.
The target capacity for the installations ranges from 30 to 50 megawatts, worth around $800,000 to $1 million per megawatt, as earlier disclosed by SNAP.
The project can potentially generate a 200-kilowatt capacity and can be developed in an over 2, 500-square meter land.
Furthermore, the company said it is treading the direction of slowly becoming a comprehensive renewable energy firm, and not merely a hydro company.
“As a company pushing for greener solutions, we aim for as much minimal environmental impact as possible in our projects,” SNAP Chief Executive Officer Joseph S. Yu was quoted in the Manila Bulletin report.
“If successful, SNAP will look into scaling up the project so that the power generated may contribute to its renewable energy capacity and energy security,” he added.
National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the government agency in-charge of the supervision and management of Magat reservoir, said that “a hectare of solar field can produce one megawatt of power.”
Since this power project will not be for land use, around 200 hectares of land can be spared for agricultural purposes.
