Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Solar Energy?

Solar energy is derived from the sun’s radiation. The sun is a powerful energy source,
and this energy source can be harnessed by installing solar panels. Did you know that
the energy it provides to the Earth for one hour could meet the global energy needs for
one year? However, we are able to harness only 0.001 percent of that energy.
There is a reason why solar energy has become a trending topic when talking about
renewables. While it has been widely criticized for being expensive or not very efficient,
solar energy has now proved to be extremely beneficial - not only for the environment
but also financially speaking. Additionally, due to the higher demand, the technology
has been improved considerably, turning into a significantly efficient source of clean
energy.
If you are in the solar energy mood and ready to make your investment, we are here to
help. We will provide you with up to four quotes free of charge and with no
obligation, allowing you to compare different systems so that you can find the most
suitable for you. Simply fill in the form to request offers.
Green Match has outlined the key advantages and disadvantages of solar power in the
following table:

Pros and Cons of Solar Energy

Advantages of Solar Energy Solar Energy Disadvantages

Renewable Energy Source Cost

Reduces Electricity Bills Weather Dependent

Diverse Applications Solar Energy Storage is Expensive

Low Maintenance Costs Uses a Lot of Space

Technology Development Associated with Pollution

Advantages of Solar Energy

1. Renewable Energy Source

Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a
truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is
available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other
sources of energy. Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun,
therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion years when according to
scientists the sun is going to die.

2. Reduces Electricity Bills

Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your solar
system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your bill will
be dependent on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage.
Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, but if you generate more
electricity than you use, the surplus will be exported back to the grid and you will receive
bonus payments for that amount (considering that your solar panel system is connected
to the grid). Savings can further grow if you sell excess electricity at high rates during
the day and then buy electricity from the grid during the evening when the rates are
lower.

3. Diverse Applications
Solar energy can be used for diverse purposes. You can generate electricity
(pphotovoltaic) or heat (solar thermal). Solar energy can be used to produce electricity
in areas without access to the energy grid, to distill water in regions with limited clean
water supplies and to power satellites in space. Solar energy can also be integrated into
the materials used for buildings. Not long ago Sharp introduced transparent solar
energy windows.

4. Low Maintenance Costs

Solar energy systems generally don’t require a lot of maintenance. You only need to
keep them relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year will do the job. If
in doubt, you can always rely on specialized cleaning companies, which offer this
service from around £25-£35. Most reliable solar panel manufacturer’s offer 20-25
years warranty. Also, as there are no moving parts, there is no wear and tear. The
inverter is usually the only part that needs to change after 5-10 years because it is
continuously working to convert solar energy into electricity (solar PV) and heat (solar
thermal). Apart from the inverter, the cables also need maintenance to ensure your
solar power system runs at maximum efficiency. So, after covering the initial cost of the
solar system, you can expect very little spending on maintenance and repair work.

5. Technology Development
Technology in the solar power industry is constantly advancing and improvements will
intensify in the future. Innovations in quantum physics and nanotechnology can
potentially increase the effectiveness of solar panels and double, or even triple, the
electrical input of the solar power systems.
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Disadvantages of Solar Energy

1. Cost
The initial cost of purchasing a solar system is fairly high. Although the UK government
has introduced some schemes for encouraging the adoption of renewable energy
sources, for example, the Feed-in Tariff, you still have to cover the upfront costs. This
includes paying for solar panels, inverter, batteries, wiring, and for the installation.
Nevertheless, solar technologies are constantly developing, so it is safe to assume that
prices will go down in the future.

2. Weather Dependent
Although solar energy can still be collected during cloudy and rainy days, the efficiency
of the solar system drops. Solar panels are dependent on sunlight to effectively gather
solar energy. Therefore, a few cloudy, rainy days can have a noticeable effect on the
energy system. You should also take into account that solar energy cannot be collected
during the night. On the other hand, if you also require your water heating solution to
work at night or during wintertime, thermodynamic panels are an alternative to consider.

3. Solar Energy Storage Is Expensive

Solar energy has to be used right away, or it can be stored in large batteries. These
batteries, used in off-the-grid solar systems, can be charged during the day so that the
energy is used at night. This is a good solution for using solar energy all day long but it
is also quite expensive. In most cases, it is smarter to just use solar energy during the
day and take energy from the grid during the night (you can only do this if your system
is connected to the grid). Luckily your energy demand is usually higher during the day
so you can meet most of it with solar energy.

4. Uses a Lot of Space

The more electricity you want to produce, the more solar panels you will need, as you
want to collect as much sunlight as possible. Solar panels require a lot of space and
some roofs are not big enough to fit the number of solar panels that you would like to
have. An alternative is to install some of the panels in your yard but they need to have
access to sunlight. If you don’t have the space for all the panels that you wanted, you
can opt for installing fewer to still satisfy some of your energy needs.

5. Associated with Pollution

Although pollution related to solar energy systems is far less compared to other sources
of energy, solar energy can be associated with pollution. Transportation and installation
of solar systems have been associated with the emission of greenhouse gases. There
are also some toxic materials and hazardous products used during the manufacturing
process of solar photovoltaic, which can indirectly affect the environment. Nevertheless,
solar energy pollutes far less than other alternative energy sources.
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCES
Renewable energy is sustainable as it is obtained from sources that are inexhaustible
(unlike fossil fuels). Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, biomass,
geothermal and hydro, all of which occur naturally.

Renewable energy, generally speaking, is clean energy and non-polluting.  Many forms
do not emit any greenhouse gases or toxic waste in the process of producing electricity.
It is a sustainable energy source that  can be relied on for the long-term. Renewable
energy is cost-effective and efficient. The challenge of climate change has impelled
many nations to set a renewable energy target.
Renewable Energy Target (RET)
Increasingly, governments around the world are turning to renewable energy to end our
dependence on fossil fuels.
In 2001, the Australian Government introduced a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target
(MRET) program with the goal of increasing uptake of renewable energy in Australia’s
electricity supply. In 2007, the Government committed to ensuring that 20 per cent of
Australia’s electricity supply comes from renewable energy sources by 2020.
In December 2008, the Australian Government and the Council of Australian
Governments (COAG) released for public consultation draft legislation for an expanded 
Renewable Energy Target (RET) that will bring the MRET and existing and proposed
state and territory targets into a single national RET scheme.
In February 2010, the Rudd Government announced proposed that from 1 January
2011, the RET will include two parts – the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme
(SRES) and the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target (LRET).
The SRES applies to small-scale technologies such as residential solar power and solar
hot watersystems and is supported by the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC)
system. The SRES is currently uncapped.
The LRET covers large-scale renewable energy projects such as wind and solar farms
and includes a target of 41,000 gigawatt-hours of renewables-based generation in that
year.
After last minute amendments, legislation for the enhanced Renewable Energy Target
(eRET), was passed on June 24, 2010.
In 2015, new legislation was passed, reducing the LRET from 41,000 GWh to 33,000
GWh by 2020.
Benefits of the Renewable Energy Target
The benefits of the RET aside from cleaning up Australia’s energy mix are many –
including jobs and billions of dollars of investment.
Homes, businesses, community groups and schools are being encouraged to install
solar power through various incentives such as grants, rebates and feed in tariffs that
pay system owners for the electricity they produce.
Cost of the Renewable Energy Target
The cost of the RET overall is estimated at approximately 3.5c to 5c per kilowatt hour.
However, the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES), a component of the
RET will have impact on household power bills by 2015/16.
 Alternatives to fossil fuel and system components
Click on the following links to jump down to the relevant part of this page:

 Solar energy
 Wind energy
 Micro hydro systems
 Hybrid systems
 Green power
 Fuel cells
 Nuclear energy
 Solar panels
 Solar Hot Water
 Solar Pumping
 Batteries
 Inverters
 Solar regulators/ controllers
 Battery chargers

Solar power
Solar power is clean green electricity that is created from sunlight, or heat from the sun.
Installing solar power systems in a residential setting generally means setting up a solar
photovoltaic or a solar thermal system on the roof.
Definition of photovoltaic: Photo = “light” and photons = energy particles coming from
sunlight; voltaic = producing a voltage or volts.  Abbreviation = PV
Solar energy is a renewable free source of energy that is sustainable and totally
inexhaustible, unlike fossil fuels that are finite. It is also a non-polluting source of energy
and it does not emit any greenhouse gases when producing electricity.
Solar electricity can supplement your entire or partial energy consumption. Using solar
power means reducing your energy bills and saving money.  Low maintenance and
unobtrusive, installing solar panels adds value to your home.
Wind power
Wind power involves converting wind energy into electricity by using wind turbines.
Wind comes from atmospheric changes; changes in temperature and pressure makes
the air move around the surface of the earth. A wind turbine captures the wind to
produce energy.
Wind power is a clean energy source that can be relied on for the long-term future. A
wind turbine creates reliable, cost-effective, pollution free energy. It is affordable, clean
and sustainable. One wind turbine can be sufficient to generate enough electrical
energy for a household, assuming the location is suitable.
Because it is a renewable resource which is non-polluting and renewable, wind turbines
create power without using fossil fuels, without producing greenhouse gases or
radioactive or toxic waste. Wind power is one of the best ways to combat global
warming.
Micro hydro systems
Micro hydro systems convert the flow of water into electrical energy. A turbine can be
fully immersed in water. The flowing water rotates the turbine’s blades. The amount of
energy created depends on the amount of water flowing on the turbine as well as the
size of the turbine.
Micro hydro systems are generally used as stand alone power systems which are not
connected to the grid. They are recommended in remote areas where there is a
continuous supply of water.
Approximately 10% of Australia’s energy comes from this source. Australia’s biggest
hydro system is in the Snowy Mountains. It is a cheap, reliable and non-polluting source
of energy.

Hybrid systems
Hybrid systems consist of combining different types of energy production systems into a
single power supply system. The most common type of hybrid system is combining a
solar system with a wind generator; however, hybrid energy systems can integrate solar
panels, diesel generator, batteries, and an inverter into the same system.
Solar panels create electricity from sunlight. This electricity is then stored in batteries.
The inverter converts the AC electricity into a DC current. The diesel generator
automatically cuts in when the batteries are low. The generator when running supplies
the load and charges the batteries. The key is to find the right mix of solar array, diesel
generator and battery capacity.
Green power
Switching to green power means that electricity providers make it possible for
customers to purchase green power from their power company if they pay extra for it. In
theory, what this means is that instead of using normal electricity which comes from
many non-renewable sources, the provider of the electricity ensures that the equivalent
electricity used in your home is fed to the grid via a renewable source, such as solar
arrays or wind turbines. However, in the past there has been instances of fraud involved
in such schemes.
Fuel cells
Fuel cells create energy through chemical reactions. A fuel cell is an electrochemical
cell which captures the electrical energy of a chemical reaction between fuels. It is an
electrochemical conversion device which converts the chemical energy of fuel (i.e.
hydrogen and oxygen) into water; and which produces electricity and hot air in the same
process. Fuel cells have no moving parts and do not involve combustion or noise
pollution.
A fuel cell is similar to a battery but does not need to be recharged; a battery gets
recharged by using electricity which is then stored in a closed system, whereas a fuel
cell uses an external supply of fuel which needs to be continuously replenished. Fuel
cells are not commercially available yet, and remain very expensive. They are used as
power sources in remote areas. NASA uses fuel cells on space shuttles; they are also
used for military applications, and in large public parks.
Fuel cells cannot store energy like batteries. Even if the energy delivered from fuel cells
is stored, their electrical efficiency is not nearly as high as a battery’s efficiency which
also happens to be a much cheaper option.
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy cannot really be termed renewable, since there is only a finite amount of
uranium on this planet. Nuclear reactors also produce a by-product other than the
power they generate: toxic harmful waste that must be stored indefinitely.
Nuclear energy is produced by a nuclear reaction when the splitting or fusion of atoms
occurs. Fusion energy is not available on an industrial scale yet. The splitting of atoms
is called fission. A typical example of fission energy is when an atomic nucleus of a high
mass atom (such as uranium) splits into fragments inside a nuclear power reactor,
which then releases several hundred million electron volts of energy. The energy
produced by the nuclear fission yields an amount of energy which is a million times
greater than what is obtained through a chemical reaction.
Nuclear reactors emit no greenhouse gases, and are the closest thing to a non-polluting
energy source apart from renewable energy. Modern reactors are safer, and are more
economic than what they used to be. The main issues with nuclear energy are the
safety standards of a nuclear power plant and the storage of its radioactive waste. It is
still a debated issue about whether or not nuclear power is a good alternative to limit our
dependence on imported oil. France is the world leader in nuclear energy production,
relying on nuclear power for 80% of its electricity.
Renewable energy system components
While renewable energy is plentiful, most of the environmental impact is related to the
production of equipment to harness the energy. Even so the energy payback time, that
is the amount of time it takes to repay the energy and resources gone into creating
something such as a solar panel, is quite short.
In the case of a solar panel, the energy payback time is around 1.5 years. Given a solar
panel has a life of 25 years, this is quite economical ecologically speaking.
The following are descriptions of common components used in solar power systems.
Solar panels
Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic modules, consist of a series of solar cells that
convert light from the sun into DC electricity.
A solar panel is a rugged piece of equipment, built to last decades of exposure to harsh
climate conditions – from freezing to searing temperatures, storms and high wind.
Solar hot water
30% of total greenhouse gases households produce is due to water heating. Solar
water heaters can dramatically reduce energy bills without any environmental impacts.
Installing solar hot water also reduces our dependency on fossil fuels. The technology
for solar water heaters is entirely different to a photovoltaic grid connect system. For
example, solar heaters use a flat plate with collector panels or evacuated tubes to
absorb the heat from sunlight and then raise the temperature of the water.
Solar pumping
Widely used on farms and outback stations in Australia to supply bore water to
livestock, solar powered water bore pumps provide an ideal water delivery solution in
areas where mains electricity is not easily accessed.
Batteries
Batteries are devices that convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Batteries are
classified according to their application and the way they are constructed. The main
applications are in cars, boats and deep-cycle.
Deep cycle batteries can be charged and discharged repetitively. Deep cycle batteries
are used in solar PV systems.
The main construction types of batteries are flooded (wet), gel, AGM (dry) and lithium-
ion.
Dry or wet / flooded refers to whether or not the electrolyte is liquid. A dry cell means
that the electrolyte is a solid powder electrolyte; a wet cell means that the electrolyte is
liquid and is allowed to flow freely in within the cell casing. Dry cell batteries are used in
flashlights, toys, radios, laptops and mobile phones.
Batteries were usually only used in standalone power systems – such as a rooftop solar
power system or wind turbine system – however, standalone power systems can be
designed to run without battery backup.
In a standalone power system, the house in question is not connected to the electricity
grid (the distribution of electricity through high-tension cables).  It is “off” grid. This
means that the stand alone power system is the sole source of energy available to the
home. In a standalone solar power system, the energy created during the day is stored
in a battery bank for use at night. Sometimes batteries are used in grid connect systems
as a backup.
Increasingly batteries systems are being installed with grid connect solar power
systems. The new generation of lithium-ion based batteries has decreased in price
dramatically.
Power and solar inverters
A solar inverter is a device used to transform direct current electricity (DC) from solar
panels (AC).  A power inverter does the same, but the source is a battery.
AC current is the standard current that makes all household appliances work. The
inverter converts the DC power of the battery bank into 240 volts, 50 Hz AC. There are
two types of inverters: the Sine Wave Inverter and the Modified Sine Wave Inverter. A
Modified Sine Wave Inverter can adequately power some household appliances and
power tools. It is cheaper, but presents certain compromises with some loads such as
computers, microwave ovens, laser printers, clocks and cordless tool chargers.
Virtually all low-cost inverters are “Modified Sine Wave”. They are usually about 70%
efficient, so expect some significant power losses if you are using a Modified Sine Wave
Inverter in your system. A Sine Wave Inverter is designed to replicate and even improve
the quality of electricity supplied by utility companies. To operate higher-end electronic
equipment, a sine wave inverter is recommended.
Efficiency has reached up to about 94% and the electricity from these devices is of a
higher quality than grid power almost anywhere in the world. A high quality inverter
usually has an auto-start system, tweaking ability and a high quality heavy-duty power
transformer.
Solar regulators/ controllers
A regulator is an electronic device which controls the voltage of the charging source.
Regulators are used to stop the batteries from being overcharged. When the batteries
are fully charged, the regulator halts the flow of power from the solar panels to the
batteries. Additionally, a regulator stops any power flow from the batteries at night. The
controller is also used so that the batteries get charged at the correct voltage. In order
to calculate the Amp rating of a controller you must follow this simple equation:
Amps x Volts = Watts.
So, if you have a 175W panel at 24 volts the following calculation should be made Amps
x 175 = 24, then the regulator should be at 175/ 24= 7.3 Amps.
… more regulator information
Battery chargers
Battery chargers are used in conjunction with the generator or main power to provide
DC power to recharge batteries. There are many types of battery chargers, including
solar chargers, and they primarily vary in the amount of time they take to charge
batteries and how they take care of the batteries while charging them.
PH largest solar farm up in Batangas

By: Doris Dumlao-Abadilla - Reporter / @philbizwatcher

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 02:52 AM March 01, 2016

BIGGEST SOLAR FARM Rather than harvest rice and corn, this 160-hectare farm in
Calatagan, Batangas province, the largest solar facility in the country, generates heat
from the sun, providing power to the western part of Batangas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A sea of metalloid panels as far as the eye can see gleams in the sun in a 160-hectare
farm traversing a rolling terrain near the foot of Mount San Piro in Batangas province.

Instead of growing crops like rice or corn, this vast farm harvests heat from the sun and
generates enough energy to power the whole of western Batangas.

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This is the 63.3-megawatt Calatagan Solar Farm at the convergence of Calatagan, Lian
and Balayan towns, the largest solar facility completed in the Philippines to date.

Located 10 minutes from Calatagan’s popular beach resorts, such a glistening man-made
structure with a unique undulating landscape—not yet common in this part of the world—
attracts curiosity. Passersby often stop to take selfies with the farm for a background.

Solar Philippines—a renewable energy firm led by 22-year-old entrepreneur Leandro

Leviste—developed, financed and constructed this solar farm at a cost of $120 million
(P5.7 billion).

Comprising more than 200,000 panels built by 2,500 people, this solar farm was
completed ahead of other projects backed by conglomerates and foreign investors racing
to secure feed-in-tariff allowance.

The farm started generating power weeks before the March 15 government deadline to
build capacity to obtain fiscal incentives under the country’s feed-in-tariff regime.

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Unprecedented

With over three decades of operation, Calatagan Solar Farm is expected to offset over 1
million tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to planting over 5 million trees. Now that this
farm has been switched on, it is expected to continue to employ at least 100 people and
boost the economy of Batangas.

Built on previously unproductive land in Barangay Paraiso, Leviste said this farm was now
generating unprecedented livelihood for three towns.

“Being on a peninsula (Calatagan), facing the South China Sea, the solar farm enjoys a
steady breeze, the highest levels of sunlight in Southern Tagalog and is seldom hit by
typhoons,” Leviste said.

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Solar Philippines said this latest project was just the beginning of its plan to transform the
power industry.

Unique position

“Whereas others see solar as just a part of their portfolio, we believe it will one day supply
the largest share of the energy mix,” Leviste said.

“Costs continue to improve, and solar will soon become cheaper than coal. As the only
local company organized to develop and build solar farms from end-to-end, we are in a
unique position to realize that potential.”

While there are other solar power projects in the pipeline, the Calatagan project—apart
from being the biggest completed so far—marks the first time a local company has
developed, financed and constructed this type of renewable energy facility.

The majority of the cost was funded by Philippine Business Bank (PBB), the banking arm
of the Zest-O group led by business magnate Alfredo Yao, Leviste said. Other banks that
supported the project were Banco de Oro, China Bank and Bank of Commerce.

“We owe this success to banks like PBB, who support SMEs (small and medium
enterprises) in emerging industries as partners more than just as financial institutions,”
Leviste said. “We look forward to extend these partnerships into future projects.”

Leviste said he expected this solar farm to break even in eight years.
On top of malls

When Solar Philippines began building solar power plants, it first built solar panels on top
of shopping malls such as Central Mall Biñan, SM North Edsa and Robinsons Palawan. It
still dreams of turning every vast rooftop in this country into a power plant.

READ: World’s biggest solar-powered mall in PH

However, building solar farms on idle tracts of land is now seen as a way to scale up
operations and generate power at a lower cost.

“Whether the panels are installed on land or on a rooftop, the business model remains the
same, except the terms of the off-take agreements can differ. In either case, we enter into
a power supply agreement with a buyer (such as the building-owner), or sell power to the
grid’s Wholesale Electricity Spot Market,” Leviste explained.

“The real difference is scale and with that comes lower costs. We plan to focus on solar
farms as the best way to accelerate the deployment of solar in the Philippines, but we’ll
also continue to develop rooftops, not least to spread awareness that the time for solar
has arrived,” he said.

More projects

Solar Philippines will soon begin construction on its next projects in Mindanao and Luzon.
It aims to complete 500 MW of capacity by 2017.

Including the Calatagan project, Solar Philippines has a total solar power capacity of 80
MW at present. Other projects in Mindanao (20 MW) and Luzon (50 MW) are seen to
boost its capacity to 150 MW by midyear.

Leviste is confident his company could build more projects outside of the next round of
solar feed-in-tariff, the allowance the government gives—and consumers pay for—as an
incentive to renewable energy producers.

With solar energy, the Department of Energy has set a new solar feed-in-tariff rate of
P8.69 per kilowatt effective until March 16—applicable to the next 71 MW to 500 MW of
capacity built. The installation target for solar energy under this feed-in-tariff regime was
capped at 500 MW until March 15.
“We’re charging ahead at full speed on our next batch of projects, even without a next
round of feed-in-tariff, because by making solar cost competitive, we can grow the market
beyond subsidies and supply the entire demand of the Philippines,” Leviste said.

“The exciting thing is that the Philippines will be among the first places where solar power
will overtake fossil fuel, because existing rates are so uncompetitive high, allowing the
Philippines to become a global leader in solar power and positioning it for when the
numbers start to make sense in the rest of the world. That can only happen if companies
like us are focused on making solar cost competitive for the long term, instead of just
maximizing profits from subsidies in the short term,” he said.

Great challenge

For solar farms built on land, Solar Philippines’ strategy is to buy all the land occupied by
its projects. This is because few landowners are willing to tie down their property for over
25 years, Leviste said.

“Land acquisition is one of the greatest challenges for solar projects in an archipelago
where arable land is highly valued, and most other solar developers are unwilling to risk
buying lands outright,” he explained.

“We consider our patience and willingness to make an up-front investment for land to be
one of our competitive advantages, demonstrating our long-term commitment to bring
solar to every province of the Philippines,” he added.

A son of environmental advocate Sen. Loren Legarda, Leviste shares the vision of Solar
City and Tesla Motors founder Elon Musk, who believes in a future where solar energy
will replace the electricity grid we know today.

Leviste was about to finish his senior year at Yale University, where he was majoring in
political science, when he heeded the call of entrepreneurship. He founded Solar
Philippines in 2013, initially running the new enterprise from his bedroom. He has since
assembled a 200-man team.
DOE to bring solar power to 595 households in NegOcc

By Nanette Guadalquiver August 14, 2018, 5:11 pm

Pastor Cesar Gallarin, executive director of Friendship Builders Foundation, on Monday

(August 13, 2018) discusses the importance of social preparation and capability-building
as a component of the DOE-Household Electrification Program, with the officials of
beneficiary-barangays and local government units in the Third District of Negros
Occidental. (Contributed photo) 
 

BACOLOD CITY -- The Department of Energy (DOE) will supply solar electricity to 595
identified households in the remote villages of the Third District of Negros Occidental.

This was announced on Tuesday by the Office of Rep. Alfredo Benitez, which
coordinates the implementation of the DOE project under the agency’s Household
Electrification Program (HEP).

Third District covers the cities of Talisay, Silay Victorias and municipalities of E.B.
Magalona and Murcia.

Households in 24 sitios or puroks (zone) in 10 villages will avail of the home-based solar
power system.

These are located in barangays Amayco, Canlandog, Minoyan, Salvacion and Sta.
Rosa in Murcia; Canlusong in E.B. Magalona; Mambulac and Guimbalaon in Silay City;
Katilingban in Talisay City; and Barangay 20 in Victorias City.

The beneficiaries were identified after the DOE, together with local government and
barangay officials, conducted a survey for off-grid households last year.

On Monday, DOE Senior Research Specialist Lourdes Arciaga, focal person for the
Visayas, gave a briefing on the HEP, while Pastor Cesar Gallarin, executive director of
Friendship Builders Foundation, a DOE program partner, discussed the social
preparation component and the organization of solar power associations with the
officials of beneficiary-barangays and local government units (LGUs).

The orientation-workshop, held at Nature’s Village hotel in Talisay City, was also
attended by representatives of Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Northern Negros
Electric Cooperative, and program contractor Trade Master.

The DOE-led program team assisted by the staff of Benitez will conduct social
preparation activities for program sustainability and capability-building for the
associations in the next two weeks.

The HEP is a component of the DOE’s Expanded Rural Electrification Program which
provides electricity for lighting, radio, MP3 player, and phone charger to households in
remote areas unreachable by power lines, using renewable energy systems such as the
photovoltaic, solar home system or micro-hydro system. (PNA)