The Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) is eyeing to add 50 to 100 megawatts (MW) of solar power capacity in order to meet its renewable energy requirements of its franchise area.
This is after closing three solar power supply deals.
“We’ll see if it can still accommodate 50 to 100 MW more. We’re in discussions with several parties. Maybe (we can close a deal) in the next three to six months,” Meralco president Oscar Reyes said.
The company already have sealed three solar power supply agreements (PSAs). These include a 50-MW supply from Solar Philippines Tanauan Corp. with a P5.39 per kilowatt-hour and another 50 MW PSA with PowerSource First Bulacan Inc. at P4.69 per kwh.
And just this month, another PSA was signed with Solar Philippines Tarlac Corp (SPTC) covering an 85 MW supply at a rate of P2.9999 per kwh beginning 2018.
But Meralco wants the three PSAs approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission first before going to another batch of solar PSAs.
“We’d like to see action on the first three solar (PSAs) to enable us to better have a decision on the next batches. On the first two, hearings have been completed. On the third one, that’s been filed,” Reyes said.
Meralco will also need to see if their system can still accommodate intermittent supply from solar power plants.
