Sec. Cusi Joins Floating Solar Project Pilot Launch

JUNE 28, 2019
ONE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY: Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (middle) leads the ceremonial switch-on ceremony of the 200-kilowatt pilot floating Solar Power Project of SN Aboitiz Power-Magat on Thursday (27 June) in Ramon, Isabela. Joining the Energy Chief during the inauguration were (L-R) National Irrigation Administration Administrator Ricardo Visaya,Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, SN Aboitiz Power president & CEO Joseph Yu, SN Power CEO Eric Knive, Aboitiz Power President & CEO Ramon Aboitiz and Norwa

ONE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY: Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi (middle) leads the ceremonial switch-on ceremony of the 200-kilowatt pilot floating Solar Power Project of SN Aboitiz Power-Magat on Thursday (27 June) in Ramon, Isabela. 

Joining the Energy Chief during the inauguration were (L-R) National Irrigation Administration Administrator Ricardo Visaya,Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, SN Aboitiz Power president & CEO Joseph Yu, SN Power CEO Eric Knive, Aboitiz Power President & CEO Ramon Aboitiz and Norway Ambassador to the Philippines Bjorn Jahnsen. (photo by Lemuel Rosete

RAMON, ISABELA -  Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi on Thursday (27 June) led the inauguration of the SN Aboitiz Power (SNAP) Pilot Floating Solar Project.

SNAP’s first venture into diversifying its energy investment portfolio to include solar energy, the project features a 2,000 kW floating solar panel at the Magat Dam reservoir. During the pilot run, the floating panel will be subjected to a 10-month stress test to ensure its function amid massive inflows or strong typhoons. 

“Demand for electricity increases with sustained economic progress. In order to address this challenge, our government is building up our power capacity. We need more innovative projects to go online to help us meet our immediate energy requirements,” DOE Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said during the event.  

He highlighted that while solar power has been on the upswing, the establishment of solar fields affect food producers as it limits available agricultural land for their use, not to mention the lengthy land conversion permitting process. 

“This project will be able to optimize the vast area of the Magat Dam, particularly its reservoir, and transform it into an invaluable power generating station. We look forward to the outcome of the testing period, which we hope would be favorable given its potential to further revolutionize RE in the Philippines,” the Energy Chief added. 

Also present were H.E. Bjorn Jahnsen, Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines; Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles; National Irrigation Administrator Ricardo Visaya; SN Aboitiz Power President and CEO Joseph Uy; SN Power CEO Eric Knive; and Aboitiz Power President and CEO Ramon Aboitiz. 

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