The Leyte provincial government has successfully finished a PHP70 million solar power project aimed at supplying energy to the new capitol complex. The official activation of the solar power system is scheduled for November 11, following five months of installation.
Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla expressed the intention to not only power the capitol but also educate people about solar power and encourage widespread adoption.
The solar power setup consists of 500-kilowatt (kW) batteries and 420-kW solar panels placed in the provincial government complex’s parking spaces.
Despite this, the complex remains connected to the local electric cooperative for additional energy supply. The project is expected to lead to significant savings, reducing the provincial capital’s monthly electric bills by PHP500,000.
Solar power costs just PHP8 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), significantly lower than the PHP14 per kWh charged by electric cooperatives. This move is driven by the desire to reduce the high cost of electricity, which is often influenced by the expenses associated with running power plants fueled by fossil fuels.
Many electric cooperatives in Leyte province source their power from GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co., which relies on coal fuel from abroad.
