In a press conference, Yun said K-Water plans to build a maximum of 10-megawatt (MW) capacity of FSPS in the Angat dam.
Yun said the company would be conducting a feasibility study early next year, which is expected to be complete in six months.
Yup added that construction of the FSPS would take around six months.
In South Korea, he said that K-Water has installed a similar system last year. It is also being implemented in Europe and the US for the last 10 years.
“This is the first time that FSPS will be constructed within a water reservoir. In Europe and the US, where there are similar projects like FSPS, they are being installed in ocean and/or river,” he said.
Yun said setting up solar panels in a reservoir not only produces a higher-power output but also creates an ideal environment for fish spawning since it constrains green algae.
K-Water, he said, is replicating the technology overseas after fine-tuning it in Korea. It decided to put the FSPS in a water reservoir as it complements their existing business.
Yun said they would study if it can be placed in Angat and in other dams like the San Roque and Casecnan dams.
He also allayed fears that the technology would have adverse effects to the environment and to the water facility.
“The technology has been proven to be safe. It will not contaminate the water reservoir as this is a main source of the country’s drinking water,” Yun said.
Since the initial capacity is small, Yun said they are planning to sell the output to private companies.
Yun added that the investment in FSPS is part of the $1 billion K-Water intends to invest in the power sector in the Philippines in the next three years.
The state-run K-Water is engaged in the construction, operation and management of multipurpose dams and multiregional/local water supply systems.
Founded in 1967, K-Water contributed to the growth of the Korean economy and the improvement of the public welfare by implementing water-resources development projects and managing these resources.
(Paul Anthony A. Isla)
