DoE awards 57 RE contracts in 1st semester

The Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded 57 renewable energy service contracts since the start of the year as part of its efforts to boost the local renewable energy sector.

Data gathered by the Inquirer showed that the proposed renewable energy projects as of June 15 this year have the potential to generate a combined 1,195 megawatts.

Of the contracts awarded, one was for a 19-MW biomass project; eight for geothermal projects; 10 for solar power projects; 35 for hydropower projects; and three for wind farms.

The number of awarded contracts, however, fell short of the target to award 75 contracts within the first five months of the year.

In an earlier interview with the Inquirer, Mario Marasigan, director of the DoE’s Energy Utilization and Management Bureau, said the government wants to sign at least 15 service contracts every month, or a total 180 contracts for this year.

The inability of the DoE to meet targets so far may be due to the fact that it is currently swamped with documents to evaluate as those developers that were granted service contracts back in 2009 and 2010 are now coming back to the DoE, either to apply anew and proceed with the development stage or give up the area.

At the same time, the DoE is evaluating new applications.

The energy department is also busy with other preparations as it targets to bid out by the third or fourth quarter this year as many as 50 new and untapped potential run-of-river hydro sites in Luzon and Visayas for exploration and development.