The Department of Energy (DOE) has exceeded the allocated 500-MW capacity for the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) set by the government after endorsing 17 new solar power projects on the second round of FIT.
The projects possess a combined capacity of 417.05 megawatts (MW), making up the total of 525.95 MW in capacity given the COE-FIT since the first round.
“The DOE, through the Renewable Energy Management Bureau, has worked day and night to ensure that each eligible solar developer strictly followed the process and technical requirements,” DOE Secretary Zenaida Monsada said.
She assured that the DOE has the best interest of the public and renewable energy (RE) developers during the validations and re-validations of 800 MW worth of solar power projects. The solar projects were able to meet the requirement of running and dispatching the committed capacity to the grid for three consecutive days before the March 15 deadline.
Eligible firms are set to receive the P8.69 per kilowatt hour (kWh) FIT rate.
The 23-MW solar plant of San Carlos Power Inc. in Negros Occidental, a venture between SunEdison Philippines Helios BV and Aboitiz Renewables Inc. was the first to receive an endorsement.
Projects that received COE-FIT in February were the 2.66-MW Phase 2 of the EDC Burgos Solar project in Ilocos Norte, the 6.23-MW Centrala Solar Power Project of Philippines Solar Energy One Inc. in South Cotabato, and the 13.14-MW RASLAG Phase 2 in Pampanga.
Endorsed firms in March were the 10.26-MW Cabanatuan Solar Power Project of the First Cabanatuan Renewable Ventures Inc. in Nueva Ecijja, the 14.5-MW solar project of the local firm YH Green Energy Corp. in Bataan, the 50-MW solar facility of PetroSolar Corp. in Tarlac, and the 63.3-MW solar farm of Solar Philippines Calatagan Corp. in Batangas.
COE-FIT recipients in June were the 2.04-MW solar project of Aboslut Distillers Inc. in Lian, Batangas, the 5.02-MW Palauig Solar Power Project of SPARC Solar Powered Agri-Rural Communities Corp. in Zambales, the 8.5-MW solar farm of Valenzuela Solar Energy Inc. and the 10.5-MW Kibawe solar farm of Asian Greenergy Corp. in Bukidnon.
Also included are the 15-MW solar power plant of Bulacan Solar Energy Corp., the 18-MW Bais Solar Power Project of Monte Solar Energy Inc. in Negros Oriental, the 20-MW Currimao Solar Power Project of South Korean Mirae Asia Energy Corp. in Ilocos Norte, the 22.33-MW Clark Solar Power Project of Enfinity Philippines Renewable Resources Inc. in Pampanga.
The biggest solar plant in the country today, the 132.5-MW solar farm of Helios Solar Energy Corp. in Negros Oriental also made the second round.