Conergy adds over 200 MW in Philippines

Germany based solar power developer announced that it has completed 201 MW of solar projects in Philippines. Conergy had won this capacity of solar projects in the Philippines last year. Four of these projects – with a total of 96 MW – are on the island of Luzon, the remaining four projects – with a combined capacity of 105 MW – are located on the island of Negros.

By completing all these projects and bringing them online before March 15, Conergy says it met the deadline for prevalent feed-in-tariff rates set by the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE). Last year, DOE had cut the solar feed-in tariff from 9.68 down to 8.69 Philippine Pesos (PHP) per kWh, setting a deadline for grid-connection in mid-March 2016.

On March 30, 2016, the German firm said that its solar capacity in the Philippines totals 274 MW, enough to power 171,300 homes. The figure is equal to more than 50% of the current 500 MW FIT quota for PV in the country, Conergy said.

Alexander Lenz, Conergy APAC president, said, “I am especially proud that our team has mastered the very challenging task of completing several large projects across the country concurrently in the race for the FIT.”

Currently, Conergy is also active in other regions of Southeast Asia with ongoing solar projects in Thailand and Indonesia. However, Philippines is currently its largest market in Asia. Hendrik Bohne, VP for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Asia added, “Conergy is keenly aware that in regulated energy markets, solar energy can only be made available on a mass scale through the support of government and the investment and vision of energy providers. If this trend we see in the Philippines continues, the country will soon catch up with the rest of its regional neighbors in choosing to power with renewable energy.”

The Philippines is aiming to add 15 GW of renewable energy to its grid by 2030.