P1.8-B solar power project launched in Clark

Workers on Sunday install the last of the 78,000 solar panels as part of the 22.325-MW Clark Solar Project, the first renewable energy project within the Clark Freeport Zone. The renewable energy project will power the current and future locators within the freeport zone, and the much talked-about Clark Green City. The project is a joint venture of Mabalacat Solar Philippines, Inc. and two Singapore-based renewable energy developers – Sindicatum Renewable Energy Company and Armstrong Asset Management. Photo by DANNY PATA?, GMA News

The Clark Development Corp. and the Bases Conversion Development Authority on Friday launched the $40-million (P1.8 billion) Clark Solar Power project in a 25-hectare leased property inside the Freeport.

The power project is joint venture of Mabalacat Solar Philippines Inc. (MSPI) and two Singapore-based renewable energy developers – Sindicatum Renewable Energy Company and Armstrong Asset Management.

The solar project in Clark could energize at least 100,000 households in Pampanga and Clark once fully operational.

Joey P. Leviste of Mabalacat Solar Philippines, Arthur Tugade, CDC president and CEO, Arnel Casanova, BCDA president and CEO, and Robert Driscoll, president of Sindicatum Group inspect the solar panels. Photo by DANNY PATA, GMA News

Clark Development Corporation (CDC) president Arthur Tugade and Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) president Arnel Casanova led the inaugural ceremony and were assisted by Robert Driscoll, president of Sindicatum Group, parent company of Sindicatum Renewable Energy Co. (SREC), and Jose Leviste Jr., MSPI chairman.

Tugade said CDC continues to seek and provide dependable, sustainable and efficient power supply in Clark, adding that the solar project would help ensure adequate and cheap power supply to current and future locators within the Freeport Zone.

It is estimated that the output from the Clark solar project will support 25,000 jobs within the Freeport.

The project is interconnected through Clark Electric Development Corporation (CEDC), and as such will supply most of its power to the local area served by CEDC, including the locators in the Freeport Zone. The project is also registered with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP), and will supply power not required by CEDC to support the Luzon grid.

The plant was completed last Monday, March 7, after the completion of final tests required by NGCP.

Full operation will start this month once it is registered with the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) and given approval to connect as a generator by NGCP.

The Clark solar power project is part of CDC’s efforts to reduce carbon footprint inside Clark and supports the development of Clark Green City (CGC), which will be a major new integrated city involving commercial, industrial and residential developments.

SREC is a Singapore-based developer, owner and operator of renewable clean energy projects in South and Southeast Asia.

The Clark Solar project is the first of several solar projects being developed by SREC in the Philippines.

SREC has leased land and is developing an additional 75-MW of solar projects, including a 25-MW project which will be built on land leased from BCDA near the new Clark Green City.

Sindicatum Group president Robert Driscoll said Sindicatum is also investing in another solar energy project in CGC. — APG, GMA News