TDG and Uyeno’s Pioneering Solar Carpark to Rise in NTMA
Solar power is the fastest growing power generation technology in the world, having achieved an annual average growth rate of 60% between the years 2004 and 2009. It is also undergoing vast improvements in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness every year. In the Philippines, solar power is one of the most promising renewable energy (RE) sources owing to its uniqueness (please see related article, Solar 101) of being installed the fastest among all sources of power. A large solar power plant can be developed and constructed within six months, as opposed to the multi-year construction phases of fossil fuel, large RE hydro and geothermal, and the other emerging RE technologies such as wind and small hydropower. In the Philippines, there already are US$200 million or PHP8.4 billion of ready investments in the solar sector (which should increase to US$800 million or PHP33.6 billion should more solar installations be targeted), that will have positive multiplier effects on the economy with the creation of upstream and downstream industries and generation of much-needed employment for thousands of Filipinos.
Another feature of solar power is its dispersed nature that enables electrification of households, schools and businesses in off-grid, missionary and rural areas, thereby promoting countryside development, agribusiness modernization, and tourism development. It also encourages micro-entrepreneurship by allowing consumers to sell electricity.
Due to the promising potential of solar power as an economically promising, environmentally-sustainable and socially acceptable enterprise, Transnational Renewable Energy Corporation (TREC) and Uyeno Transtech Limited (Uyeno) incorporated a joint venture company named Transnational Uyeno Solar Corporation (TUSC) on 10 February this year, which shall be engaged in solar power generation.
As a pilot project, TUSC is installing a 206 kwP Solar Carpark at the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA) in Canlubang, which will become the first solar carpark in the Philippines. The Carpark will comprise rows of solar panels mounted like a canopy, which will provide shade to vehicles while generating electricity at the same time. There will also be a solar panel test bed using other types of solar panels. The entire electricity output of the system will be fed to the grid through the existing electrical lines of Meralco and will therefore provide clean power to the local community. The Solar Carpark is targeted to be commissioned by early September.
Last 28 May, TUSC held a simple ground-breaking ceremony for the project. The event was graced by executives of TUSC, TDG and NTMA, led by TDG Founder and Group Chairman Mr. J. Roberto Delgado, Group CFO Ms. Soc Niro and Group COO Mr. Dan Florentino. Representing Uyeno Transtech was Mr. Nicolas Bivero. The event was also graced by TUSC’s partners and contractors in the project: Phoenix Solar (Singapore), Do All Metal, Inc., Romago Inc., and All Vision; and executives of Carmelray Industrial Park, Inc. led by its President, Mr. Ed Abores.
In his Welcome Address, Mr. Delgado remarked that the ground-breaking ceremony is a powerful symbol of TDG and Uyeno’s commitment towards the vision of being Global, Great and Green. “It is a momentous start for our foray into the renewable energy business and we hope to really learn the finer points of the solar power business through this project,” Mr. Delgado said to the enthusiastic audience.
