Solar power is becoming the world’s cheapest form of new electricity generation, according to an international group of renewable energy and financial experts. A recent report from the Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a team of experts in cross-sectors and cross-geography trends spread across six continents, shows that solar now outranks wind as the cheapest form…
Month: January 2017
Malampaya funds eyed to lower rates
The government is considering the use of a portion of the P228-billion Malampaya fund to reduce power costs in the Philippines, an energy official said over the weekend. “The DoE was informed that about P228 billion was deposited to the special account of the fund three months ago. This can be verified with the Department…
‘Critical’ days for power supply expected in mid-February during shutdown of Malampaya
THE THIRD WEEK of February is viewed as a critical period for power supply in Luzon, based on simulations from the Department of Energy (DoE), natural gas supply from Malampaya will still be unavailable while several power plants go on maintenance shutdown. “What is critical for me is Feb. 13 to 17,” Undersecretary Felix William…
Alternative funding source for FiT not yet available — DOE
THE Department of Energy (DoE) has not yet found the funds to replace the feed-in-tariff (FiT) allowance being collected from electricity consumers to repay investors in renewable energy projects. “There is none yet,” Energy Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella said when asked whether the department had found a possible funding source. “We’re still looking and…
PHL still leads Asia in renewable power but share declining
THE Philippines leads Asia and the Pacific in renewable energy with 13% of its electricity sourced from renewables excluding hydroelectric, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) reported. However, this share has gradually declined from 1990 to 2013 as the country, along with Cambodia and Singapore, saw an increase…
Senate panel drafting rules to standardize competitive selection in power contracts
THE SENATE committee on energy will be inviting the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in coming up with a legislated process that will ensure fairness and transparency in forging power supply contracts, its chairman said. “We will invite the ERC to make sure that it will be complementary,” said Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, who chairs the…
Palawan suffers daily power interruptions
Residents of Puerto Princesa and Southern Palawan have been experiencing daily power interruptions since 2017 started. The Palawan Electric Cooperative PALECO said the power interruptions were caused by power line faults and problems in their independent power provider’s generators. Read more here.
PSALM seeks bids for Malaya fuel supply
State-run Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) is seeking offers for P686 million worth of fuel requirements to run the government-owned Malaya Thermal Power Plant this year. In a notice, PSALM said it is bidding out a one-year contract for the supply and delivery of industrial fuel oil for the 650-megawatt (MW) Malaya…
Meralco may cut power rates this month
Customers of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) are likely to see a reduction in power rates this month due to lower generation charge – the biggest component in electricity bills. “We may see the possibility of lower electricity rates this month following a slight increase in December,” Meralco spokesperson Joe Zaldarriaga said. He said charges from…
Winnergy Holdings Corp. 