Veco’s net-metering encourages solar generation, power savings
The initiative of the Visayan Electric Company to encourage the private sector and home consumers in energy saving has been lauded by the Department of Energy, not just as pioneering but also helping plug the thin power reserves in the Visayas Grid.
Aside from the Cebu Unplugged, VECO chief operating officer Sebastian Lacson also introduced the net-metering system through solar energy generation which he described as “sexy business” that anyone can do in their homes.
Under this program, those who generate their own electricity, either partially or in whole, can feed in their excess or unused power to Veco. This program has been encouraging consumers to install solar panels in their homes, to save on power cost at the same time decreasing demand from the grid which has been experiencing volatile power supply.
“Anything you generate, you sell it to VECO (Visayan Electric Co.),” Lacson said.
The system will only require one to install four panels to generate one kilowatt power which will be installed on the roof.
“The panels occupy only eight square meters and is not that heavy. The solar power is then transmitted to an inverter where the direct current is converted to alternating current which you can use and the extra generated capacity you can sell to VECO,” he said.
The system will have to be integrated to the grid for VECO to buy the extra generated energy at P5.6 per kilowatt hour.
Lacson said they have installed these systems at Councilor Nestor Archival’s home as well as Cebu Business Club president Gordon Alan Joseph.
“Governor (Hilario) Davide III will also be installing one in his home. ROI (return on investment) is at a high 12.3 percent within seven to eight years,” Lacson said.
Lacson added that through the system individual households can already participate in the energy play and assist in the economic development of the country through power generation.
Energy Undersecretary Raul V. Aguilos lauded this initiative of Veco.
“We all know that the consumption of energy increases with economic growth and now we have pegged demand growth rate at 6 to 7 percent annually. While we have many power plants in the pipeline, conservation and putting in place efficiency measures will allow us to use the saved energy for more developments,” he said in an interview after the forum.
Aguilos lauded Veco’s advocacy of having the business sector participate not just in energy conservation but also in generation, saying it should also be done in other parts of the country.
Based on a report by Gerardo B. Castro of DOE Central Visayas, the Cebu-Negros-Panay grid has a total dependable capacity of 1,628 MW and a peak demand of 1,572 MW as of June 19.
“That only leaves us with 56 MW surplus which is very thin. We need people to help conserve energy to get pass this critical period without brownouts which causes more loss to us economically,” said Aguilos.
He added that Cebu for example has an embedded capacity of 585 MW and a peak demand of 768 MW or 48.9 percent of the grid’s demand.
“Cebu will need more embedded capacity to be able to supply its own and not rely on imported power. We have projects in the pipeline though that should help.”
Castro said Visayas has a committed power projects of 587.6 MW and indicative projects with 775 MW until 2016.
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