SBMA gets DOE, PNOC Solar EV Station, blessing of E-Buses & EV Stations held

The Department of Energy (DOE) formally turned over a Solar-Assisted Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), marking another important milestone in the government’s efforts to promote cleaner, smarter, and more sustainable transport and energy solutions nationwide.

The turnover ceremony, held in Taguig City, was led in by DOE Undersecretary Mario C. Marasigan, who represented Energy Secretary Sharon S. Garin. He was joined by Director Patrick T. Aquino, CESO III of the DOE’s Energy Utilization Management Bureau (EUMB). Representing SBMA were Engr. Marco A. Estabillo, Deputy Administrator for the Public Works and Technical Services Group, and Engr. Jomel M. Libut, Officer-in-Charge of the Maintenance and Transportation Department. The event was also witnessed by Mr. Ronald R. Estilles, President and CEO of the Philippine National Oil Company Renewables Corporation (PNOC RC).

Developed by the DOE and PNOC-RC under the Government Energy Management Program (GEMP), the Solar-Assisted EVCS serves as a model facility for integrating renewable energy into electric mobility. The project supports the government’s efforts to expand access to clean transport, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote the wider use of electric vehicles in strategic locations, such as the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Meanwhile, the SBMA held the blessing of e-buses and charging stations at the Maintenance and Transportation Department (MTD) and Argonaut Highway, paving the way for a greener Subic Bay Freeport on November 24, 2025.

The SBMA e-Bus is a new public transport system in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone utilizing 10 electric buses (e-buses) as part of the agency’s move towards a carbon-neutral Freeport. There are currently two charging stations for the e-buses, with the Department of Energy (DOE) donating the one at Argonaut Highway.

A total of 58 bus stops will be constructed, eight around the Central Business District, 16 at the Cubi Area, six at theme park areas, 18 at the Binictican Housing area, and ten at the Kalayaan Housing area. (PNA, SNL)

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BOI, DTI brings energy efficiency roadshow to Subic

In its effort to promote renewable energy to locators in this premier Freeport, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) co-organized and welcomed the "Make REshift Happen" roadshow.

The Make REshift Happen roadshow is a forum organized by the Board of Investments (BOI) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) at the Subic Grand Harbour Hotel here on October 2, 2024.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo L. Aliño said that the Make REshift Happen project introduces the guidelines for registering Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Act projects.

He also said that it also aims to raise awareness on and support for the national government’s goal of consuming 35 percent of the power generation mix in the country from renewable energy by 2030 and 50 percent by 2040. 

Participants from manufacturing companies inside the Freeport, together with their respective SBMA account officers, took part in the info session wherein the BOI urged local manufacturers to decrease their reliance on conventional energy sources by embracing energy efficiency and conservation measures.

BOI Director for Domestic Investments Promotion Service (DIPS) Maria Rosario Dominguez expressed her gratitude to the SBMA for co-hosting the event, citing that the Make REshift Happen would certainly be beneficial to Subic Freeport companies here.

She added that the Make REshift Happen is a testament to the BOI's dedication as the country’s primary investment promotion agency (IPA) in fostering camaraderie among IPAs, ecozones and industrial parks, and in pushing for the adoption of renewable energy.

She also said that these roadshows are made for enterprises engaged in export-oriented manufacturing and other industries with substantial power requirements.

During the session, BOI Resource-Based Industries Service Director Raquel Echague cited the importance of the transition of manufacturing companies to renewable energy (RE) in powering their businesses inside this premier Freeport.

The official also said that companies who transition to REs are given incentives, adding that the BOI and the DTI aim to provide benefits to facilities who will use renewable energy sources to power their operations.

Echague also conducted a presentation on the updated registration guidelines for EE&C projects with BOI under Republic Act No. 11285 (RA11285) or the EE&C Act, to provide the SBMA account officers with information on how to assist companies here in applying for their incentives.

Last month, the SBMA launched the “Race to Carbon Neutrality” project where participants and other stakeholders of the recently concluded Central Luzon Tourism Summit expressed their support to ensure its success.

The Race to Carbon Neutrality project aims to reduce these carbon emissions in the Freeport by 30 percent by 2030, and eventually to net zero by 2040.

Currently, the SBMA continues to reap savings from its own solar power system projects installed as early as 2017. A total of P2.96 million was saved in 2023 from solar power systems Malawaan Park, Bldg. 229, Bldg. 255, Bldg. 662, Regulatory Bldg., and the Remy Field. (MPD-SBMA) 

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2 e-PUVs roam the streets of SBF on test run for 2 weeks

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) inaugurated its public transportation project with the test run of two fully electric public utility vehicles (e-PUVs) around the central business district (CBD) here from September 13 to 27. 

In collaboration with the Basic Energy Corporation, the company behind the Green Energy E-Transport Program (GEEP), this project was conceptualized primarily to provide free or low-cost transportation services to Subic Freeport stakeholders, as part of the wellness program of SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño to improve the quality of life of the local populace.

Aliño lauded the hard work of the SBMA’s committee on public transportation, chaired by Deputy Administrator for Finance Antonietta Sanqui, for the expeditious formulation and pursuance of a roadmap and action plan geared towards achieving a more accessible and affordable yet sustainable and energy-efficient transportation for residents, employees, tourists, and all other stakeholders of the free port. 

The Agency chief added that the e-PUVs on test run will be used to ferry commuters from CBD-A bus stop situated at the Golden Dragon Restaurant parking area, and CBD-B bus stop at the Kalaklan Terminal.

The ePUVs made its inaugural run here during the second Central Luzon Sustainable Tourism Summit held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) for its ecotour on Wednesday and Thursday. 

“These ePUVs that were used to take tourism summit participants to their designated ecotours here and in Zambales aim to reduce carbon emissions in Subic Bay,” he said.

Basic Energy Corporation is a publicly listed holding company in the Philippines that has business interests in various fields of renewable energy and alternative fuels, and oil and gas exploration and development.

The renewable energy company continues to fuel the Philippines’ vibrant energy sector with the breadth and depth of its projects and technical knowledge. It aims to be the leading developer of alternative and renewable energy, oil and allied products and services in the country. (MPD-SBMA) 

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SBMA reaps ₱2.96-M savings from SPS project in 2023

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) reaped ₱2.96-million savings from using solar power energy from January to December of 2023.

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño attributes these savings to the solar power system (SPS) project that the agency has undertaken as early as 2017.

“We are grateful that this renewable energy project saves a lot for the agency. With this, the agency could now just focus on important financial obligations,” he said.

Aliño added that the SBMA is currently reaping benefits from the solar power system projects in six areas, namely: Malawaan Park, Bldg. 229, Bldg. 255, Bldg. 662, Regulatory Bldg., and the Remy Field.

“Especially now that the weather is scorching hot, we need to protect our employees from heat stroke, and it will not cost us a single centavo because we are now harvesting from these solar power system,” Aliño added.

According to Engr. Eddie Ventura, SBMA Telecommunications Department officer-in-charge, this project was established in compliance with Republic Act 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, an act promoting the development, utilization and commercialization of renewable energy resources and for other purposes.

Ventura shared that for Remy Field, which started only in March 2023, and consumed 76,663 KWh at 9.3882/KWh, the SBMA saved ₱719,727.58. Also, in Bldg. 255, which consumed 70,475.55 KWh from January to October 2, savings amounted to ₱661,638.56. However, the system was temporarily shut down to give way for the building’s roofing rehabilitation project.

For the Regulatory Bldg., a savings of ₱652,386.02 was reaped from the 69,490KWh consumption; while the 52,434.43KWh consumption at the Bldg. 662 translates to ₱492,264.92 savings. Also, ₱439,680.76 was also saved from 46,833.34KWh consumption at the administration building.

Ventura recalled that the SPS project started in 2017 as a result of an external seminar on SPS conducted by Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP)-Zambales Chapter that electronics engineers attended.

Then Telecommunications Department manager, the late Engr. Joey A. Lacanlale, assigned Engr. Jefferson B. Llantada of the department’s Projects and Technical Services Division (PTSD) to do a research and use solar powered lightings in Malawaan Park.

Later on, an experimental 10-Kw Grid Tied SPS at Regulatory Building was done in 2018 and was successful. Hence, the department pursued more SPS projects spearheaded by Engr. Antonio G. Rafanan.

Ventura added that the solar power system project was implemented, primarily, to save on power consumption expenses and sell its excess energy to the Electric Cooperative; to comply with the green initiative, which is an effort to reduce pollution and waste, conserve resources and maintain 

an ecological balance, and the Power Savings Program; and also to promote sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Rafanan explained that with the SPS project, the agency not only reduced the use of non-renewable resources of energy, it is also started selling unused harvested power back to the grid in 2022.

He said that the Grid-Tied and Hybrid systems were also configured and applied to use net-metering, which is another source of savings for the agency aside from consuming harvested solar power.

The SPS project cost amounted to ₱22,643,760.83 in total. This includes ₱400,892.86 Off-Grid system in Malawaan Park, which started in 2017; ₱3,493,000 Grid-Tied in Regulatory Building, which started in 2018 at 10KW, then upgraded to 50KW in March 2022; ₱6,854,000 Grid-Tied in Bldg. 229 and Bldg. 255, as well as ₱3,095,000 Grid-Tied in Bldg. 662, all of which started in March 2022; and ₱8,800,867.97 Hybrid system in Remy Field, which started only in March 2023. (MPD-SBMA)

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Sharp eyes Subic Bay for renewable energy hub

Sharp Solar Solution Asia is setting its eyes on transforming Subic Bay Freeport into a renewable energy hub in the region.

This move aligns with the country's broader initiative to embrace green energy solutions, following recent policy shifts that encourage foreign investment in the renewable sector.

During a recent visit to Subic, Sharp's CEO Hideyuki Inada discussed with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Eduardo Aliño the potential for solar energy farm projects within the freeport zone.

 

This initiative is not only a testament to the growing trust and confidence in the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s renewable energy programs but also leverages Japan's favorable foreign exchange rates, enhancing Sharp's competitiveness in the global solar energy market. 

Sharp's successful operation of solar farms across Vietnam, Thailand, Mongolia, and Laos, alongside its existing projects in the Philippines, underscores its capability and commitment to advancing solar energy solutions.

The entry of Sharp into the Subic Bay Freeport signifies a positive shift in the investment climate, promising substantial economic and environmental benefits. 

The partnership is expected to bolster the Philippines' position as a leading destination for green energy investment, spurred by recent legislative changes that allow 100 percent foreign ownership in renewable energy projects. 

These reforms have already led to a surge in investment applications, including offshore wind and floating solar projects, highlighting the country's potential to generate significant employment opportunities in the renewable sector. (bnnbreaking.com)

Source:https://bnnbreaking.com/finance-nav/business/sharp-solar-solution-asia-eyes-subic-bay-for-renewable-energy-hub-boosting-philippines-green-initiatives

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Subic Freeport gears up for e-vehicle tourism

The country’s premier Freeport signified its readiness for electric vehicle tourism after the installation of two Electric Vehicle Charging Station (EVCS) here. 

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan graced the official launching of the EVCS at the Uni-Oil Subic gasoline station after a product presentation. 

“We are gearing up to attract more tourists while maintaining an environmentally healthy environment as part of my administration’s thrusts. Not only that we are now expecting tourists thru the conventional fuel-powered vehicles, we are now ready for tourists on electric vehicles and e-cars,” Tan said.

Tan added that another EVCS was installed at the Acea Subic Beach Resorts early this year. Both Acea and Uni-Oil EVCSs will provide the ‘juice’ for electric vehicles that are now on the rise due to vehicle manufacturers producing more efficient and reliable electric vehicles. 

He explained that both charging stations have two charging feeder pillars and enclosure each, and can easily accommodate two vehicles simultaneously. With the establishments of the EVCS here, Tan encourages soon-to-be new car owners to look into electric vehicles.

“Subic Bay Freeport has been known to be an ecologically-friendly area, and with the installations of these electric vehicle charging stations, Subic can be a haven for electric car owners,” he added.

The Unioil Subic EVCS is a partnership between Delta Electronics International (SG) Pte. Ltd. and Unioil Petroleum Phils., Inc. Delta EV Chargers are made by Edgetech and Delta, and were demonstrated using electric vehicles Hyundai IONIQ5 from Hyundai Motors Philippines and Nissan Leaf from Nissan Philippines.

Acea Subic Beach Resort was the first to install an EVCS in Subic Bay Freeport, providing guests and visitors the option to use their electric vehicles when coming to their establishment. The EVCS in Acea was opened during the last week of January.

With Subic Bay Freeport increasing the number of EVCS, tourists with electric vehicles will now have the option to visit this premier Freeport without worrying of not having to recharge their vehicles.

“Accessibility to having electric vehicle charging stations is the key to making Subic Bay Freeport a tourist haven for electric vehicle owners. The installation of electric vehicle charging stations here will help increase confidence for first-time vehicle owners to go electric as the Freeport and the SBMA continues the fight against climate change,” Tan said.

The official cited that some EVCS are now capable of charging e-bikes and e-scooters, and also have higher-power DC fast charging and combined charging system capability that is used by most newer electric vehicles.

“With the dawn of fast charging, some electric vehicles can easily replenish their battery packs within 30 to 40 minutes,” Tan added. (MPD-SBMA)

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Subic firm allows solar users to sell excess power

A solar power company located in this free port is now providing the means for power consumers to produce their own electric power supply and sell the excess power generated from their solar panels.

Bandacorp Solar Inc. (Bandasolar) officials said with the net-metering program already in effect, residents of Olongapo City would be able to install an on-site Renewable Energy (RE) facility, produce power for their own consumption, and even sell their excess electricity to distribution utilities.

The firm, which provides environment-friendly solar panels and cost-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lamps to cut down power bills by up to 50 percent, banks on the net-metering program to draw this advantage.

Net-metering allows power users to install wind or solar power stations not exceeding 100 kilowatts (kW) in capacity for their own use. The electricity that was not consumed is automatically fed to the Olongapo Electricity Distribution Company (OEDC) system where they are paid as “generation cost.”

The OEDC computes the amount of excess power fed to system and then deducts the total from the consumer’s next electricity bill, thus lowering the cost.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma Eisma lauded the Subic company for its support in the government’s renewable energy program and for encouraging local households and businesses to play an active role in alternative energy production.

“This is what Subic is all about—innovation and public service,” Eisma said. “Bandasolar not only helps power consumers minimize the use of expensive conventional power energy fuels, and thus save on their power bills, it also helps protect the environment and preserve natural energy sources,” she added.

Bandasolar is accredited by the Department of Energy to design and supply equipment for solar-powered systems for commercial, government, industrial and residential customers. The firm is offering free consultation at their showroom-office along Sampson Road in the Subic Bay Freeport for those who wish to know more about solar-power generation.

Bandasolar also offers a line of energy-saving devices ranging from air-conditioning system to solar street lights, solar water heater, and even home and industrial solar-lighting solutions.

Among the companies in Subic Freeport that already use solar power or LED lamps are Ocean Adventure marine theme park; gastight plastic storage manufacturer GrainPro; packaging manufacturer PACTEC; the testing and certification firm SGS; and ink solution provider Printing Images CtC, Inc.

Bandasolar has also installed solar facilities for some residences at the Kalayaan and Binictican housing areas in the Subic Bay Freeport, and undertaken similar projects in Zambales, Pampanga, Batangas, and Ilocos Sur under the net-metering scheme.

Already implemented in some countries around the world, the net metering scheme in the Philippines is governed by Republic Act 9513, otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, and implemented through the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) in consultation with the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB). (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA okays US$798-M solar farm and industrial city project

More manufacturing companies and light to heavy industries are expected to locate in this premier Freeport, as the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) approved the development of a 982-hectare industrial estate at Subic’s Redondo Peninsula.

SBMA Chairman Martin B. Diño and SBMA Administrator Wilma T. Eisma announced the approval of the US$798-milion project proposed by Dynamic Konstruct International ECO Builders Corp. (DKIEBC), a duly-registered enterprise inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

The proposed project site for the solar farm and industrial city at the Redondo Peninsula

“This project is our answer to the inquiry of investors looking for thousands of hectares of flat land for manufacturing and light to heavy industries inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone,” Chairman Diño said during the State of the Freeport Address (SOFA) hosted by the Subic Bay Freeport Chamber of Commerce (SBFCC) last Monday.

He added that the SBMA has been conferring with nearby local government units to identify more areas suitable for the development of industrial estates that will be under the Subic Bay Freeport’s tax- and duty-free regime.

Administrator Eisma meanwhile pointed out that the proposed solar farm and industrial city, when fully realized, will generate about 50,000 new jobs.

“When the Subic Naval Base closed down in 1992, we were all so depressed to be losing the 35,000 jobs generated by the US Navy. But under the SBMA we have long surpassed those numbers— as of February 2017 our active workforce within the Freeport is 115,272—and we keep on working to bring about more employment,” she added.

The SBMA officials also clarified that out of the $798-million investment commitment, the DKIEBC will spend about $300 million for the proposed 402-hectare solar farm, which is designed to produce 200 megawatts of green energy to primarily supply the proposed 580-hectare industrial city.

The industrial city project will include commercial buildings, factories, warehouses, utilities for water and electricity, fire and law enforcement facilities, and sanitation and landfill facilities.

According to DKIEBC, the solar farm shall primarily benefit the investors and locators of the industrial city with green and low-cost energy supply and reduce the risk of exposure from the spot market. (NBM/MPD-SBMA)

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Aetas, SBMA ratify green energy project

The Aetas of Pastolan in Subic Bay Freeport has ratified the expansion of  wind and solar energy projects in its ancestral land as part of their commitment to sustainable development.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), through Emerging Power Inc. (EPI), a renewable energy (RE) firm, will allocate US$200M to its renewable energy project which will cover 800 hectares of Mount Santa Rita, a Pastolan ancestral land, in observance of a Joint Management Agreement (JMA).

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia signed on October, 2013 a joint management agreement covering partsof the Ayta ancestral domain in the Subic Bay Freeport with Pastolan Ayta chieftain Conrado Frenilla (right)and NCIP Region 3 director Ronaldo Daquioag. (AMD/MPD-SBMA)

“We are proud that the Pastolan Aetas have been very supportive in this milestone. This partnership is a witness that preservation of heritage and sustainable development can work together without being compromised,” SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia said.

“We are helping each other by moving forward with our plans for the preservation of our future generation,” Garcia added.

The JMA was signed and witnessed on October 10, 2013 by SBMA, The Aetas, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The said project will generate a total of 150-megawatts of RE.

The agreement was forged to protect and preserve the rights of the Aetas along with the implementation of socio-economic and cultural development programs by SBMA.

The groundbreaking of wind and solar power farm, which happened on October 2015, was the first wave of its expansion.

Chairman Garcia assures that the Pastolan Aetas will benefit from this expansion, same with the turnover of P14.8M cheque to the Aetas as payment for lease rentals by the locators within the ancestral domain.

“We are giving a priority job hiring to the Aetas for the construction of more solar and wind power plants. The welfare of our brothers and country will always be important to us,” Garcia said.

The expansion is a collaborative action of SBMA and Indigenous Peoples to uphold RA 9513 or the Renewable Energy Act in 2008 to invest on RE projects. This also serves as their support in the global commitment of Philippines to reduce greenhouse gas emission at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21).

“As the first military base to be successfully converted into a Freeport zone, we are reaching greater heights by playing a vital role in the preservation of both cultural heritage and environment with the installation of a major clean energy project in partnership with Indigenous Peoples,” Garcia said.

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Experts urge Subic Freeport stakeholders to use renewable energy

Experts invited by the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) on Thursday urged business locaters and residents in Subic Bay Freeport area to start using renewable energy to help minimize ecological damage and slow down climate change.

In the forum “Climate Change Management and Green Energy: Making Business Green Through Renewable Energy,” speakers led by Climate Change Commissioner Heherson Alvarez explained that the continuing emission of carbon into the atmosphere would create serious consequences like global warming and a drop in global food production.

The forum, which was organized by the SBMA Ecology Center, convened residents, investors, workers, and other stakeholders of the Freeport. The speakers included Alvarez, Dean Felino Lansigan of the College of Arts and Sciences in the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB), and Forester Rex Victor Cruz, who is also the Chancellor of UPLB.

In the forum, Alvarez and the other speakers warned of the dire effects of environmental destruction from the use of carbon-based energy sources and encouraged the tapping of energy from wind, sun, and water.

“Even a temperature increase of just 1.5 degrees Celsius will drive the fish to go deeper and farther into the open seas, as temperature increase may kill all the fish near the coast due to overheating,” Alvarez said.

The increase in global temperature, he said, is caused by over-emission of carbon into the atmosphere from millions of gas-fed vehicles, factories, machines, and power generators.

Alvarez pointed that the Aquino administration has officially committed an Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) target of 70 percent greenhouse gas reduction below business-as-usual levels by 2030. This primarily covers the energy, transport, forestry, waste, and industry sectors.

“That’s why we have to invest in our future and build renewable energy sources, while every Filipino should cut the usual emission of carbon,” Alvarez said.

“Let us mobilize every heart [person] to cut the use of carbon. Remember that we are on the edge of human extinction,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lansigan talked about the effects of climate change on food security and sustainable development, and pointed out that a one-degree increase in temperature would mean a 14.12 percent drop in corn and rice production and that from 20 to 30 percent of crop species would be at risk of extinction.

“Maraming lupa ang lulubog, maraming pananim at hayop ang masisira kung hindi man mawala na, kung hindi natin mapaghahandaan ang climate change,” he said.

Cruz, for his part, explained that while there may be downsides in the use of renewable energy, “cutting the use of carbon will save mankind from extinction.”

Atty. Ruel John Kabigting, who is officer in charge of the SBMA Ecology Center, assured the speakers and stakeholders in Subic Bay Freeport of the agency’s support and participation in various actions to mitigate the effects of climate change.

He also pointed out that because the SBMA strictly enforces laws and policies on environmental protection, the Subic Freeport remains to be the home of many species of plants and animals.

The participants in the forum also all agreed that the government and private groups should start developing and using renewable energy technologies, which are considered healthier to both man and his environment. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
Climate Change Commissioner Alvarez talks about the dire consequences of the use of carbon-based fuels while at the same time pushes for increased utilization of renewal energy at the Climate Change Management & Green Energy Forum in Subic Bay Freeport. (photo by Forester Patrick Escusa)

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Emerging Power to upgrade Subic project

Renewable Energy (RE) company Emerging Power Inc. (EPI) is partnering with California-based tech firm Amber Kinetics for the Flywheel Battery Storage Technology in the 150 Megawatt (MW) solar and wind power project in the Subic Bay.

“Amber Kinetics’ technology will be very useful in smoothing out the energy generation of our Solar and Wind farm by taking out the variability. We are very excited to work with Amber and hopeful that this milestone deal will be replicated in future renewable energy projects in the country,” EPI Head of Marketing Alberto Guanzon said.

EPI is looking at acquiring 10-MW worth of Multi-hour Flywheel Battery Systems from Amber Kinetics for the Subic project. The company will be the first to use the technology for a utility scale power plant in the Philippines.

Flywheel energy storage works by rotating steel rotors at very high speeds, allowing the system to store energy. In effect the flywheel is a reservoir for kinetic energy which can be drawn out at any time.

Aside from dealing with the variability of solar and wind energy, Amber Kinetics’ state of the art flywheels will also provide multi-hour flexible capacity to the transmission.

Amber Kinetics’ technology has demonstrated the ability to store and release electricity for hours. It also offers unlimited cycling for a 30-year lifespan with no degradation. These attributes make it ideal for integrating utility scale renewable energy and transmission.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Emerging Power to integrate energy storage into the 150MW solar and wind farm in Subic Bay. We believe that our multi-hour flywheels are an ideal technology solution to help EPI smooth the variability of solar and wind generation into the transmission system. The EPI team is incredibly forward thinking and we are excited to be working together,” Amber Kinetics CEO Edward Chiao said.

EPI is majority owned by Nickel Asia Corporation, one of the country’s biggest mining firms. The miner has guaranteed up to P3 billion the loan facility of EPI over three years to finance the RE projects all over the country. (Voltaire Palaña, Manila Times)

PHOTO: Image c/o EPI

http://www.manilatimes.net/emerging-power-to-upgrade-subic-project/250791/

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UK-based company tapped for solar farm project in Subic Bay

A UNITED Kingdom-based solar energy company has been tapped as the engineering, procurement and management (EPM) provider for a 100-megawatt solar farm project in Subic Bay.

With the project, Proinso, a global leader in the photovoltaic industry, is looking to further increase its presence in the Asian market.

“The Subic Bay engagement is a complex project demanding a high level of capability support across many disciplines provided via our EPM program. Our EPM model is based on a collaborative approach working with local partners. This way, Proinso is able to deliver world class renewable assets and also invest in the development of a strong local industry,” Stuart Macfarlane, Proinso regional head for Asia Pacific, said in a statement yesterday.

Proinso is partnering with local firm Asiacrest Marketing Corp. for the Subic solar farm project, which is touted as the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asia.

Asiacrest Marketing President and CEO Lawrence Plata said the company will be Proinso’s exclusive distributor and country representative for the Philippine market.

“We are tapping experts from the UK, Spain and Australia to design and execute the project. These experts will also engage in a knowledge transfer program to develop the skills of our young and dynamic team of local engineers. We have more solar projects in the pipeline which we hope will help to speed up economic and social development,” Mr. Plata said in the same statement.

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in Manila had worked closely with Proinso for its entry into the Philippine market.

UKTI International Trade Adviser David Taylor said the Subic Bay project is one of the biggest by a UK company in the Philippines this year.

“The UK is committed to action on climate change and Proinso is a great example of our business expertise in renewable energy and low carbon initiatives. A project of this scale will utilize the abundance of solar energy in the Philippines and help the country develop a cleaner energy mix,” British Ambassador to the Philippines Asif Ahmad said.

Proinso has extensive experience in systems integration in grid-tied, off-grid, storage and diesel hybrid solutions across residential, commercial, industrial and utility applications.

The solar energy company said international markets account for 88% of its sales. It currently has offices in Spain, Germany, Greece, Italy, USA, UK, Canada, China, Brazil, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Mexico and India. (CRAG, BusinessWorld)

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=uk-based-company-tapped-for-solar-farm-project-in-subic-bay-&id=117583

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Subic hosts largest solar power project in Southeast Asia

This premier free port is expecting to be in the forefront of sustainable development as it eyes the installation here of a $200-million combined solar and wind farm that would generate a total of 150 megawatts of renewable energy.

“This is another pioneering role on the part of the Subic Bay Freeport, which is the first military base to be successfully converted into a free port zone,” Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia said in a media briefing on Monday.

“​It will also​ be one of the first major clean energy projects in the country and the biggest solar installation in the whole Southeast Asia, and it is a big honor for Subic to be the project site,” Garcia noted​.

“This is very significant since the whole world is looking at renewable energy nowadays,” he added.

The $200-million alternative energy project will be undertaken by Emerging Power, Inc. (EPI), a renewable energy firm that has put up a 40-megawatt geothermal power plant in Mindoro last year.
EPI is controlled by Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), one of the country’s biggest mining firms in the country.

The clean energy project will be located in an 800-hectare project site on Mount Santa Rita here, which is covered by the Pastolan Ayta tribe’s ancestral domain.

Garcia said the company hopes to have the Subic solar and wind power project on stream by next year.

He said the project is in line with RA 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which aims to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources, increase utilization of such and promote their efficient and cost-effective commercial application. The law was also designed to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions to protect public health and the environment.

The development and promotion of renewable energy has been set as among the priority projects of the national government under the Investment Priorities Plan of 2012, Garcia added.

Garcia said the EPI project will be a pioneering venture for the establishment of renewable energy facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

“This is a big stride towards sustainable development,” Garcia added. “It will help us keep Subic green and make the Freeport grow further.” (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:

SBMA Chairman and Administrator Roberto V. Garcia (4th from left) and Emerging Power Inc. President Martin Antonio Zamora (3rd from left) lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the 150-megawatt solar and wind power project in the Subic Bay Freeport zone. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

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EPI to build multibillion wind, solar projects in Subic

EMERGING Power, Inc. (EPI), a renewable energy company, will be putting up multibillion-peso wind and solar power projects at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in line with its expansion from geothermal to solar and wind power.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has approved the entry of EPI into local company Jobin-SQM Inc. (JSI) via the acquisition of a 90 percent stake in the latter, SBMA acting deputy administrator Ronnie R. Yambao said.

The SBMA is the operating and implementing arm of the government for the development of a 670 square kilometer area of Subic Bay Freeport (SBF) into a self-sustaining tourism, industrial, commercial, financial, and investment center to generate employment opportunities.

In 2014, JSI president Nancy Tan signed a 50-year lease agreement with SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia for the development of a wind and solar project on an 800-hectare property on Mt. Sta. Rita, about 8 kilometers away from Olongapo City.

JSI has energy service contracts for 100 megawatts (MW) of solar power and 50 MW of wind power granted by the Department of Energy (DOE).

The Mt. Sta. Rita solar project, worth $200 million, is expected to be operational by June 2016 and is seen to reduce coal consumption by 44,300 tons per year.

A feasibility report by JSI released in March 2015 showed that the site is a suitable location for a solar energy facility that can produce up to 100 MW of power.

The report cited “convenient traffic, superior geographic position and rich solar energy resources” as factors proving the viability of the project.

It said the project meets the increasing demand for energy of the emerging Freeport Zone, while also speeding up the area’s economic and social development.

EPI chairman Antonio Martin Zamora said the project will pave the way for bringing clean and renewable power to SBMA.

“What better way to spark progress and growth to the people of Subic and investors in the country’s first freeport than by making clean and stable power available to them?” said Zamora.

Nickel Asia Corporation (NAC), one of the country’s biggest mining firms, holds a majority share in EPI.

NAC has said in a recent disclosure that it will guarantee the loan facility of EPI for up to P3 billion over a three-year period to finance EPI’s renewable energy projects.

NAC said it has earmarked $60 million for the purchase of JSI and Phase 1 of the project, which will initially be able to generate up to 25 MW of solar power.

EPI is also putting up a 40-MW geothermal power company in Oriental Mindoro, a 10-MW solar project in Camarines Sur, a 2.5-MW biogas project in Quezon; and a 10-MW solar and bunker hybrid project in Northern Palawan. (Ritchie A. Horario, Manila Times)

http://www.manilatimes.net/epi-to-build-multibillion-wind-solar-projects-in-subic/209576/

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Subic Ayta tribe okays $200-M renewable energy project

The Pastolan Ayta community has approved the establishment of a renewable energy project to be located inside an 800-hectare area of the Ayta ancestral domain in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Ayta tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla and Ayta elder Bonifacio Florentino signed a memorandum of agreement on Friday with Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto Garcia and Jobin SQM Inc. President Nancy Tan for the implementation of the energy project on Mount Sta. Rita here.

Tan also presented the Ayta leaders with a P1-million check representing the company’s donation to the tribe.

The proceeding s was witnessed by representatives from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), which oversees the welfare of native communities.

According to Chairman Garcia, Jobin SQM Inc. intends to build a $200-million facility here that will produce power from clean energy sources. The facility will produce 150 megawatts of combined solar and wind energy.

Garcia said the project is in line with RA 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which aims to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources, increase utilization of such and promote their efficient and cost-effective commercial application. The law was also designed to effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions to protect public health and the environment.

The alternative energy project, Garcia further said, was formally committed during President Aquino’s state visit to China in September 2011.

The development and promotion of renewable energy has been set as among the priority projects of the national government under the Investment Priorities Plan of 2012.

To carry out the Subic project, Jobin has successfully satisfied the requirements set by the Department of Energy and has engaged the partnership of HydroChina International Engineering Co., LTD. (HIECL) for a joint venture.

HydroChina, which engages in renewable energy development projects worldwide, operates projects in the fields of hydropower and water conservancy, solar and electric power, as well as ports, highways and buildings.

Garcia said the Jobin project will be a pioneering venture for the establishment of renewable energy facilities in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (HEE/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTOS:
[1] SUBIC RENEWABLE ENERGY. SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia (center) signs an agreement for the development of renewable energy projects in the Subic Bay Freeport with Jobin SQM President Nancy Tan (2nd from right), and Ayta tribal leaders Conrado Frenilla (2nd from left) and Bonifacio Florentino. The alternative energy project—a 150-megawatt solar and wind power facility—will be located at an area covered by the Ayta ancestral domain in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

[2] P1-MILLION DONATION. Jobin SQM President Nancy Tan presents a check worth P1 million to Ayta tribal chieftain Conrado Frenilla, as SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia looks approvingly. Jobin SQM Inc. will develop a 150-megawatt solar and wind power facility that will be located at an area covered by the Ayta ancestral domain in the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. (AED/MPD-SBMA)

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SBMA, Jobin sign deal for $200-M solar/wind power project in Subic Freeport

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) has signed an agreement with Jobin-SQM, Inc., an all-Filipino corporation, for the establishment here of a $200-million renewable energy facility that will produce electricity from both solar and wind power.

SBMA Chairman Roberto Garcia and Jobin-SQM, Inc. President Nancy Tan signed an agreement reserving an 800-hectare property on Mt. Sta. Rita where the firm eyes to produce 20-megawatts (MW) of solar energy and 50 megawatts of wind energy.

Garcia said the project was formally committed during President Aquino’s state visit to China in September 2011.

The proposal is in line with Republic Act No. 9513, otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which aims to accelerate the exploration and development of renewable energy resources, increase utilization of such and promote their efficient and cost-effective commercial application, and effectively prevent or reduce harmful emissions protecting health and the environment.

The national government has declared the development and promotion of renewable energy as among its priority projects under the Investment Priorities Plan of 2012.

Garcia said Jobin has successfully satisfied the requirements set by the Department of Energy (DoE) in line with its intention to develop the solar and wind power project and has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the SBMA for the reservation of the project site prior to signing a lease agreement.

Thomas Garcia, Jobin-SQM Inc. stockholder, said the firm is keen on developing the Subic project, which is expected to turn on power by June 2016.

“Subic, we believe, is a progressive place and there’s a lot of potential. I like Subic,” Garcia added.

The renewable energy project has been in the pipeline since 2011 when Jobin entered into a joint venture agreement (JVA) with Hydrochina International Engineering Co., LTD. (HIECL) for the development of the said project.

Hydrochina Subic LTD Corp., which is the Filipino counterpart of HIECL, has been tapped to undertake the Subic project.

Meanwhile, HIECL will be in charge of the technical aspect of the project, including engineering, procurement and construction. (RFD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO:
SBMA Chairman Roberto V. Garcia shakes hand with Nancy G. Tan, president of Jobin SQM Inc., after signing a memorandum of agreement for the establishment of $200-million renewable energy project in the Subic Bay Freeport. With them are other SBMA officials and representatives of Jobin SQM Inc.

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Subic solar energy firm gets DOE accreditation

A company based in this free port is gearing up to become a leading player in the country’s renewable energy program after receiving accreditation from the Department of Energy (DOE).

Bandacorp Solar, Inc., a registered locator here in the Subic Bay Freeport, was granted a DOE accreditation that entitles it to avail of incentives such as zero-percent value added tax rate, tax- and duty-free importation of components and parts and materials, and income tax holidays.

The accreditation was granted after a stringent evaluation and site validation by the DOE. It is valid for three years.

Bob Silvers, president of Banda Solar, said the company is the first small-business enterprise dealing on alternative energy projects in the Philippines that was granted such an accreditation.

This would help the firm promote its products better and in the process make alternative energy systems more accessible and affordable to the public, he added.

Silvers also said that the DOE certification will allow affordable products to be manufactured in the country, since the bulk of these products used in the Philippines are being imported from China, Germany and the United States.

“These incentives will be passed on to our customers to encourage them to use solar-powered products, thus helping in the improvement of renewable energy industry as well as achieving additional advantageous effects to the environment,” he added.

Banda Solar is also look at promoting the use of renewable energy in the Subic Freeport by working with Subic Enerzone, the local power distributor, and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) in the Tipo Expressway lighting project.

The company is also promoting alternative energy awareness among residents of local communities by installing a one-kilowatt power station in Iram, an upland village populated mostly by Ayta tribesmen.

Established here in 2010, Banda Solar focuses on the development of solar energy and has supplied renewable energy products across the country. (FMD/MPD-SBMA)

PHOTO: 
Bob Silvers, president of the Banda Solar Corp., proudly shows his company’s accreditation certificate from the Department of Energy.

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Subic firm offers renewable energy solutions

A Subic-registered company is now producing cost-efficient and environment-friendly energy and lighting solutions touted to address growing concerns of rising energy costs and degraded environment.

BandaSolar, which traces its roots to Bandacorp PI Inc. that was established here in 2006, is now offering Filipino consumers the benefits of renewable energy with its solar panels and light emitting diode (LED) lamps that could cut down power bills by more than 50 percent.

This has prompted Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman Roberto V. Garcia to call for a study on the installation of solar panels for all street lights in the free port and the use of 250-watt LED lamps instead of the standard 1,000-watt halogen lamps.

Bob Silvers, president of BandaSolar, said that his company addresses the concerns of consumers on the seemingly relentless power rate hikes, and seeks to meet growing demand for solar solutions in the Philippines, as well as internationally.

“The first question in the mind of Filipinos is ‘How am I going to cut on my power bills?’ And the answer is: turn to sun and use its energy,” Silvers said during an exhibit of products here. “Solar energy will cut your electric bills up to half or more,” he added.

Silvers said that historically, the use of solar power was limited only to those living in remote locations with no other choice but to device a solar power generator with a cost equivalent to P100 per watt, or P100,000 per kilowatt, enough to light a small house.

Having an average of a 25-year lifetime, solar panels are being sold mostly in China, Japan, India, Australia and South Korea, which accounted for 3.3 gigawatts of demand in 2011, with Japan and China leading in the Southeast Asian region.

“But that was before the solar panels were in mass production in such a volume where it became part of the energy economy competing with more expensive petroleum and other forms of energy,” Silvers pointed out.

He said that, as of last year, the cost of solar panel went down to P50 per watt or P50,000 per kilowatt, “that’s why people really can afford solar power in place of the regular electricity generated by the electric companies.”

Silvers said the cost of using solar power “may sound high, as the first five years after purchasing and installing the solar panel, you are like paying the cost of the solar panel. But after five years, the electricity is free within the period of 20 years or more,” he added.

Industrial users also benefit a lot from solar power because by producing some or all of the needed electricity with solar power, they can eliminate a portion of that variable cost and insulate their businesses against the inevitable rising cost per kilowatt hour of electricity, Silvers said.

He explained that a company using 100 pieces of 150-watt sodium bulbs has to pay an average of P413,870 for power consumption and maintenance cost in 4.38 years of the bulbs’ lifetime. On the other hand, if the same company uses 100 pieces of 100-watt LED lamps, it will only spend P13,699 for maintenance expenses in the 13.7 years of the lamps’ lifetime.

Silvers also said that BandaSolar is offering free consultation to those who wish to know more about solar power, and an introduction to a line of energy-saving devices ranging from air-conditioning system to solar street lights, solar water heater, and even home and industrial solar-lighting solutions.

In Subic, the company has already convinced several companies to shift to solar power or LED lamps to save on energy costs. Its clients here include the Ocean Adventure marine theme park; gastight plastic storage manufacturer GrainPro; packaging manufacturer Pactec; global testing, verification and certification firm SGS; and ink solution provider Printing Images CtC, Inc.

BandaSolar has also installed renewable energy systems for some residences at the Kalayaan and Binictican housing complexes here, as well as for other clients in Pampanga, Batangas, Ilocos Sur and Zambales. (RAV/MPD-SBMA)
PHOTO:

Bob Silvers, president of BandaSolar, explains the advantages of using a solar energy system.

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