RE developer switches on 4 solar plants in Negros Island

Making a pitch for its eligibility under the government’s Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) program, Bronzeoak Philippines Inc. finally switched on four renewable energy projects in Negros Island with a total capacity of 98 megawatts (MW).

The 18-MW Monte Solar Energy was built in partnership with AC Energy in Bais City, Negros Oriental. Three plants by the Negros Island Solar Power—48 MW in the municipality of Manapla, 18 MW and 14 MW in La Carlota City, Negros Occidental—were developed in partnership with ThomasLloyd Group from Germany and acquired by Macquarie Infrastructure and

Real Assets’ (MIRA) Pinai Fund.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is expected to finalize within the month a list of qualified solar projects for the FIT program, an incentives pool for renewable energy developers.

As of March 15, the DOE has already endorsed 11 solar plants, with a total capacity of 300 MW, to the Energy Regulatory Commission. More solar power projects may be issued certificates of endorsement since the validations and assessments are still ongoing. Riza T. Olchondra