The Negros Occidental provincial government has entered into a P158.28-million power purchase agreement with a renewable energy solutions firm for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in six designated buildings.
WeGen Energy Philippines Inc. will install a total capacity of 1,270.5 kilowatt peak (kWp) in these structures, based on the contract to sell signed between its Vice President for Sales and Operations Orlando Alparce, Jr. and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City on Monday afternoon, April 28.
Under the agreement, the identified project sites are the Negros First Cyber Centre, with a system size of 588.5 kWp; Provincial Capitol, 140.8 kWp; Food Terminal Market, 99 kWp; and Negros First Hostel, 68.2 kWp, all in Bacolod City; as well as Lorenzo D. Zayco District Hospital in Kabankalan City, 220 kWp; and Valeriano Gatuslao District Hospital in Himamaylan City, 154 kWp.
WeGen shall install the system within 90 days from the receipt of the contract, which will run for 25 years, after which the ownership of the system shall be transferred to the provincial government at no additional cost.
Data of the provincial government on Tuesday, April 29, showed the installation of the solar PV system will supply at least 40 percent of its power requirements and will result in an estimated savings of P9.637 million annually or P404.537 million in 25 years.
“By implementing rooftop solar projects across various provincial entities, the provincial government is leading by example and turning its commitments into action,” the provincial government said in a statement, citing the province’s SecuRE Negros roadmap for renewable energy development.
The project also adheres to the directive of the Inter-Agency Energy Efficiency and Conservation Committee, led by the Department of Energy through Resolution No. 8, series of 2023, for all government entities to source at least 20 percent of their energy requirements from renewable sources.
The solar PV system project’s positive environmental impacts include avoiding 25,521 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years, the equivalent of planting 421,987 trees, offsetting the use of around 2.506 million gallons of diesel that would have been required to produce the same energy output, and preventing the use of 28.348 million pounds of coal. (PNA)