IslaSol I
| SaCaSol II | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Location | La Carlota, Negros Occidental |
| Coordinates | 10°25′22″N 122°56′12″E / 10.422778°N 122.936667°E |
| Status | Under-construction |
| Construction began | May 16, 2014 |
| Commission date | December 2015 |
| Owner | San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. |
| Solar farm | |
| Type | Flat-panel PV |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 32 MW |
| External links | |
| Website | www |
Project details
SaCaSol II, renamed in October 2015 as Islasol, is a 32-megawatt (MW) photovoltaic power plant[1] under construction. The photovoltaic power plant was a cooperation between ThomasLloyd CTI Asia Holdings Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the ThomasLloyd SICAV-SIF – Cleantech Infrastructure Fund - managed by global investment and advisory firm ThomasLloyd Group, and Bronzeoak Philippines Inc, a company specialising in the development and implementation of clean energy projects in the Philippines. It is maintained under an Operations and Maintenance Contract by Conergy Asia & ME and was developed by Bronzeoak Philippines for San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. (SaCaSol), in La Carlota, Negros Occidental, Philippines.[2][3][4] SaCaSol II A will be in commercial operation from December 2015. SaCaSol II B will follow in January, 2016. The solar irradiation at the project site is about 1,843 kWh/m²/year (PV Syst). SaCaSol II, follows SaCaSol I, the country's largest solar plant of 45 MW at San Carlos. A third project, SaCaSol III, is under construction in Manapla, Negros Occidental, Philippines with a capacity of 48 MW.[1] In June 2015, ThomasLloyd sold its stake in SaCaSol II to the international consortium, Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI).
Environmental and Social Impact
As an archipelago of about 7,107 islands, the Philippines is a decentralised energy market. The Philippine National Statistics Office confirms that the Philippines power sector operates under one of the highest electricity price structures in Southeast Asia.[5] This potentially depresses the competitive ability of the country's economy and threatens the prosperity of the population. This acts potentially as a drag on the competitive ability of the country's economy and it’s ability to sustain growth in the prosperity of the population. The Renewable Energy Act of 2008 was a legislative cornerstone to expand energy sources and establish incentives for increased capacity in renewable energy, such as solar power. The country is already one of the world’s largest producers of geothermal power. The SaCaSol II plant now provides about 73.000 people (SaCaSol II A: 41.000, SaCaSol II B: 32.000) on Negros island with sustainably-produced electricity, supporting continued local economic growth, more diverse employment opportunities and greater prosperity. ThomasLloyd group donated USD 100,000 to Philippine Senator Loren Legarda and Philippines Ambassador to Germany, Maria Cleofe Natividad, for the electrification of Camaniangan Elementary School in Barangay Prosperidad, San Carlos, Negros Occidental. Another school, also selected by the Senator in the province of Leyte, will receive similar funding in 2016. Furthermore SaCaSol supplies the School with accu-based portable lamps to pupils from nearby communities, who do not benefit from grid-distributed power. The children can charge their accus during the daytime at school and take them home in the evening to do homework by the light of the accu-lamps.
Awards
When choosing the Solar Power Project of the Year, the Charlton Media Group gave SaCaSol I the Silver Asian Power Award 2014, a highly-acclaimed award in the energy industry. During the same event, San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc. won bronze as part of the Independent Power Producer of the Year Award.[6]
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a World Bank subsidiary, bestowed the Sustainable Energy Finance Award 2014 on San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. The Philippine solar investment company belonging to the ThomasLloyd Cleantech Infrastructure Fund, put the first utility-scale solar power plant into operation in spring 2014.[7][8]
Frost & Sullivan, a global management consultancy, gave the Best Practices Award 2014 in the category of Philippines Solar Photovoltaic System Integrator of the Year, to San Carlos Solar Energy, Inc., the solar portfolio company of ThomasLloyd Cleantech Infrastructure Fund.[9]
The Asia CEO Forum nominated San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. as Green Company of the Year. The Forum is considered one of the most important forums in the Asia-Pacific region committed to collaboration between regional and international organisations and companies.[10]
References
- ^ a b "San Carlos Solar Energy, Latest News". 20 March 2015.
According to SaCaSol president Sech Zabaleta, [...] SaCaSol II with 32MW and SaCaSol III with 48MW capacities 'are also under construction in Negros.'
- ^ "18-MW solar facility to rise in La Carlota". 17 May 2014.
- ^ "Second solar power plant breaks ground in Negros". 19 May 2014.
- ^ "Bronzeoak working on USD 233m of Philippine solar plants - report". Renewables.Seenews.com. 23 February 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
- ^ "Phl power rates, among the highest in Asia, issue of October 7, 2013
- ^ Asian Power: Meet the movers and shakers of Asia’s thriving power industry at the Asian Power Awards 2014
- ^ IFC Press room: IFC, Partner Banks Help Finance Sustainable-Energy Projects and Cut Carbon Emissions in the Philippines
- ^ Thomas Lloyd: IFC verleiht San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. Sustainable Energy Finance Award (german)
- ^ 2015 Frost & Sullivan Philippines Excellence Awards
- ^ Asia CEO Awards 2014 Winners
