THE European Union (EU) and the Department of Energy (DOE) are pushing ahead with the lighting of off-grid communities, which would benefit close to 100,000 households, especially in the Bangsamoro region.
The EU Delegation’s Head of Development Cooperation Enrico Strampelli and DOE Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella spearheaded the commemoration of the switch-on ceremony for solar power of electrification and livelihood projects.
Both the EU and the DOE support these initiatives through the Access to Sustainable Energy Program (Asep).
The EU provided a €60-million (P6 billion) grant to the Philippine government for the implementation of a program that would increase the share of indigenous and renewable sources in the energy mix while expanding the access to electricity services in remote areas and populations, as well as pursue new energy-efficiency strategies.
The ceremony represents the powering of households in Sitio New Mabuhay and thousands of households in other off-grid areas in the country. It also highlights the productive use of renewable energy for increased income generation in rural communities.
Under the Asep’s Photovoltaic (PV) Mainstreaming program, about 40,500 solar home systems, each with a 50-watt peak capacity, will be installed in remote off-grid communities in various provinces in Mindanao.
To date, the SHS installation has been completed in Sitio New Mabuhay, Barangay Little Baguio in the Municipality of Malita, Davao Occidental.
About 100 recipient households are already enjoying the benefits of superior lighting from solar PV.
Asep is being carried out as a partnership between the EU and the DOE. Other key stakeholders include the National Electrification Administration, Energy Regulatory Commission, National Power Corp., electric cooperatives and local governments.
Earlier the EU urged local stakeholders to tap its available funding for sustainable and reliable energy projects.
EU Project Manager for Cooperation Section Willy Hick said during the Energy Smart 2018 event of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines that Asep provides investment support for innovative energy solutions.
One of Asep’s three components is to provide a €21-million investment support package for pro-poor and climate-resilient innovative business solutions in the power sector.
Hick said the EU urged stakeholders such as electric cooperatives, communities and entrepreneurs, among others, to submit their proposals for projects intended to help provide electricity to rural communities, particularly in Mindanao.
Under the Asep, the EU grants a €7-million technical assistance and capacity building for reform, as well as another €29-million investment support through the World Bank, to provide 40,000 solar-home systems in Mindanao.
In total, it provides €57 million to help the Philippines promote sustainable and reliable energy.
“We wish to extend the program,” Hick confirmed, and noted that the Asep will run until this year.
For future interventions, Hick said the EU aims to promote a “blending instrument,” which is a combination of loans and grants as investment support for viable businesses and projects that will generate new connections and additional power capacity.
He added that the EU will still be assessing the feasibility of “blending operations” and opportunities in the renewables sector in the country. This will be under the Electrification Financing Initiative, or the ElectriFi program of the EU, which is being rolled out in countries in Africa.
DOE, Kris Krismundo/PNA