[historic project, business model EPC]
In October 2013, San Carlos Solar Energy Inc. (SaCaSol) contracted Conergy to design and build a solar plant, with a total installed capacity of 22 MWp in Negros Occidental. By 2014, the contract was extended to include another 23 MW which brought the plant‘s capacity to 45 MWp.
SaCaSol, a joint venture between the local clean energy developer, Bronzeoak Philippines and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI) received Asian Power Magazine‘s Award for Independent Power Producer of 2014, in recognition of their ground-breaking achievement for building the country‘s first utility-scale commercial solar power plant.
The Philippines is rapidly increasing energy generation in order to reduce electricity prices, which are the fifth highest in the world and to improve the country’s competitiveness ahead of the launch of the ten-country Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) single market, which will be the sixth biggest in the world. Electricity market data indicate that average spot electricity prices decline as solar power generation increases, due to reduced consumption of expensive diesel. The Philippine government is supporting solar through a feed-in-tariff of 0.21 USD/0.17 Euros per kWh of grid-connected PV.
Bronzeoak President Jose Maria P. Zabaleta Jr. shares, “Sacasol is moving ahead with its expansion and is excited to be doing so with Conergy, with whom it has worked well in the past. With the right partners, the projects can be delivered on time to meet the country‘s growing energy needs.”
Alexander Lenz, CEO Conergy APAC, said: “We are very encouraged by the increasing recognition of the relevance of solar power in the Philippines as more developers and project sponsors ramp up their investment in utility-scale solar to meet the growing power demand in the country. These additional projects with SaCaSol, which triple their solar energy capacity, not only underscore solar‘s growing acceptance and strong momentum but also demonstrate the improving economics of solar in the Philippines.“
As of March 2017 Bronzeoak & San Carlos Clean Energy have been owned by Ayala Corporation‘s power arm, AC Energy
