Solar power developers seek ‘clarity’ on FIT

The race for the second batch of feed-in-tariff incentives for solar power ended on March 15, and as with any race, solar power developers are anxious to know who made the cut.

The Philippine solar industry, in a letter to the Department of Energy (DOE), asked for clarity on how energy authorities are deciding on who are included in the FIT list.

Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) wrote to DOE Secretary Zenaida Monsada to ask for “clarity” on the FIT eligibility rule as well as be updated on how solar companies will be qualified in their bid for the solar FIT rate.

In the letter, PSPA legal counsel Beverly Ann C. Noriega said several press releases were issued last week announcing the completion of solar projects.

She said that, from the releases, it is obvious that the program will be oversubscribed by as much as 200 megawatts.

“Right now, solar companies feel some sense of uncertainty on whether their projects are included in the FIT list. Some PSPA members reported they remain insecure as they have no way to verify if their plants are eligible even though they are already operating,” she said.

Although the solar industry is guided by the DOE Department Circular governing the FIT program, Noriega said there were practical issues about getting included in the final list of the solar FIT.

“For example, how will companies be stacked with each other if the recorded grid injection are seconds, just minutes apart? What happens should NGCP (National Grid Corp. of the Philippines) fail to witness the synchronization of the plant on the March 15 due to some official or personal circumstance? How will government resolve a situation if the documents from PEMC (Philippine Electricity Market Corp.) are delayed due to some unforeseen events?” Noriega said.

There are still other issues that PSPA wants addressed for a better and more efficient implementation of this program, Noriega said.  Riza T. Olchondra