Biggest in country: $70-M Ilocos Norte solar plant underway

By Freddie G. Lazaro

LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte – A Korean company is set to invest at least $70-million for the construction of a solar power plant in Ilocos Norte – considered to be the biggest solar power source in the country.

Stephen Chae, chief executive officer and vice president of the Korean company EC Cobuy Philippines, Inc. (ECCPI) based in the country, said the amount is the initial investment of their company for the installation of materials and equipment for the solar power plant in the towns of Badoc and Vintar.

He said the ECCPI is one of the well-known companies in the country that produce materials for renewable energy plants such as the solar power with system on Hanwa Solar Modules and solar tracker, wind power with system on dual blade dual turbine (DBDT) wind generator system, and the LED lighting with higher efficiency and longer life.

“At least 13,000 solar panels are initially planned to be used for the construction of the solar power plant within the 60 to 70 hectares of land located in the towns of Badoc and Vintar,” he said.

“The power plant is expected to generate more than 20 megawatts of electricity,” he added.

He claimed that “this is the first of its kind, and considered biggest solar plant project to be installed in the country.”

As an initial step for the realization of the project, a separate Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) were signed by the local officials from the two towns that were represented by Badoc Vice Mayor Thomas Torralba, Mayor Arlene Torralba, and Vintar Mayor Jose G. Foronda, and Chae.

“We are honored to have the privilege to share another Korean technology here in Ilocos Norte,” Chae said.

Under the MOUs, the two local officials and the ECCPI agreed to increase electricity by installing solar energy products, turbo wind power turbine system, and various kinds of LED lights.

One of the two towns’ counterparts for the realization of the project is to look for the ideal location for the project, while the ECCPI will construct and provide the necessary materials.

It was noted that the project was designed to augment the electric power supply of the local electric cooperative in the province.

After the MOU signing, the ECCPI can now start the process of securing the clearance from the Department of Energy (DOE) for the construction of the project.

Upon the issuance of clearance by the DOE, the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the local officials and the company is tentatively set on October 18, 2013 for the approval of conditions for the start of the full-blast installation of the solar power plant project.

Meanwhile, Badoc town’s Vice Mayor Torralba disclosed that they had already the downstream of the Badoc Bridge, which crosses the Badoc River, as the site of the solar plant project.

Once completed, the solar power plant, Torralba said, will serve the households in Badoc town, and in nearby towns like Pinili in Ilocos Norte, and Sinait and Cabugao in Ilocos Sur.

“The construction of this renewable and environment friendly project is in-line with the vision of the national, and the provincial government headed by Governor Imee Marcos,” Torralba said.