(Taguig City) To assert the nation’s goal for energy sustainability, the Department of Energy (DOE) headed by Sec. Carlos Jericho L. Petilla witnessed the ceremonial switch-on of the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Net Metering Facility in La Consolacion College – Manila (LCCM) last September 5, 2014.

Among those present during the event were Secretary Petilla, Sr. Imelda A. Mora, OSA, President of LCCM and Mr. Cris Giovanni Chiong, President of the Trademaster Resources Corp., the company who handled the installation of the solar systems.

 “When we started this endeavour, we envisioned it to project an idea that can convince other institutions from different sectors to follow the bandwagon of putting solar panels in their respective buildings.” said Sec. Petilla.

 During the media briefing, Sec. Petilla highlighted that the project is a win-win scenario both to the institution and the company that installed the panels. He also noted that the maintenance of the panels will be handled by the company.

“Trademaster is obliged to clean the panels if necessary from time to time since La Consolacion would pay the amount of solar power they produced for a particular time.”

 The switch-on of the LCCM Solar Facility is the first solar project of the DOE catering academic institutions. Currently with Phase I, the installed capacity is pegged at 42.84kW while Phase II of the project would produce an additional capacity of 90.27kW with a total capacity 133.11kW.

 The other academic institutions who expressed their interest for a Solar PV net-metering facility in their campuses are Manuel Luis Quezon University (MLQU), St. Scholastica’s College – Manila, St. Scholastica’s Academy – Marikina, University of Perpetual Help and Miriam College.

 The Net-Metering scheme is a method prescribed in the RA 9136 otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) which allows electricity consumers with RE facilities to revert back surplus electricity from their systems back to their electric distributors.