State-run Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) plans to install solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in select government offices, aligning with the government's push for energy efficiency and conservation.
During a Senate budget hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 15, Arnel Corona, budget manager of PNOC Renewables Corporation (PNOC-RC), raised the need for funding solar power installations in both government agencies and local government unit (LGU) buildings.
“We really need funding for solar rooftop installation. Some government agencies do not have sufficient budgets to support the government’s GEMP project,” Corona said.
“Next is an additional five megawatt (MW) installation annually, and we also want to explore the microgrid system to reduce the electricity costs of electric coops and pursue other RE projects,” he added.
According to PNOC, they have signed contracts with five agencies to generate a total of 5.5 MW. They are also still anticipating deals from three other government entities this month to boost the capacity to six MW.
The state-owned power corporation said they are also expecting 20 MW for the next year.
“We have been engaged in solar rooftop projects since 2015, we’re recognized by the World Bank to be the lead implementing agency for the Green Energy Market Program (GEMP),” Corona elaborated in his presentation.
The PNOC-RC emphasized that the project's sustainability is secured by a 15-year cooperation period, during which solar rooftop installations will be implemented across 13 government agencies. They also highlighted that the projects have no hidden costs and are committed to prudent and responsible spending of GEMP investments by local government units and other agencies.
Subsequently, the state-run enterprise is looking into a budget of P47.6 million for next year, while its current approved budget for 2024 is at P56.7 million.