Enfinity starts solar project in Mindanao

BELGIAN firm Enfinity S.A. is developing a new solar power project to help plug generation deficiency in the Mindanao grid, especially given threats of drought that could weaken the capacity of hydropower generation.

The 28.6-megawatt (MW) phase 1 of the Digos solar farm project will be developed in a 34.8-hectare site in Davao del Sur province. It is targeted for commercial commissioning by February 2016, just in time for the strike of the high-demand months of summer.

The company will invest a total of P2 billion for the first phase of the project. About 20 percent of expense component had been earmarked for local elements like civil works, concrete, other materials and wages.

The Digos solar farm is advancing to full construction phase following the issuance of ‘notice to proceed’ to Sterling and Wilson of India, as the international engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, and Miescor as the local contractor. Photovoltaic or PV panels will come from Hanwha of South Korea.

William Ruccius, busines development director of Enfinity Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd., said solar production matched with the power demand during the peak time of the day and the maximum generation would occur in the summer months, when seasonal demand is highest.

Ruccius noted that employment for phase 1 would peak at about 500 during construction and a workforce of 50 would be needed during operation. Enfinity said job fairs had been held in four barangays “to screen and process” local applicants for these jobs.

There would also be phase 2 of the project, involving a 15-MW installation in a 20-hectare site. “We are in discussion with electric cooperatives in Mindanao to supply power through long-term power purchase agreements on the phase 2 and other projects,” Ruccius said.

Diversity in power sources for Mindanao will be crucial next year because of the seasonality of the hydropower facilities, which remained as the grid’s major power supply source following delays in the commercial operation of some coal plants that have been aligned for its baseload capacity requirement.

Ruccius said the competitive value proposition that solar power could provide for Mindanao grid’s need for peaking power, a cheaper option compared to the traditional source, mainly diesel plants.