Approval for 30 MW project in the Philippines

19 July 2013

US$55 million scheme in Ilocos Norte is the third PV project to win a certificate of commerciality in the country. South Korean developers expect to be fully operational in late 2014.

The Philippines government has given the green light for the country's third commercial solar project.

The Energy Department of the Philippines confirmed on Wednesday it has issued the nation's third certificate of commerciality for a PV project, meaning South Korean solar developer Mirae Asia Energy Corp. can begin construction.

An announcement by the Energy Department, quoting a Mirae official, said the company will now process the permits required to start construction with the intention of breaking ground on the PHP 2.4 billion (US$55 million) project in the fourth quarter of this year.

Mirae expects construction of the 60-hectare project in the village of Paguludan, near Currimao town in the Ilocos Norte province, to take from nine to twelve months with the plant in full commercial operation by late 2014.

The developers will benefit from a FIT payment of PHP9.68/kWh.

The previous PV projects to win a certificate of commerciality in the country were Philippine Solar Farm-Leyte's 30 MW scheme in Ormoc and a similar-sized solar farm by ATN Philippines Solar Energy Group at Rodriguez, Rizal.