NFA inks partnership with PNOC for rooftop solar project

The National Food Authority (NFA) has forged a partnership with state-owned Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC) to build a rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system project at its headquarters in Quezon City. 

At a press conference on Thursday, NFA acting administrator Larry Lacson announced that the grains agency has signed a memorandum of agreement with PNOC for the project.

He said the initiative aims to reduce electricity costs and improve overall energy management for the grains agency.

“NFA is going green. We will not only save on our power cost from this solar rooftop project, we are also contributing to the reduction of carbon emission and in safeguarding the environment,” Lacson said.

The NFA chief said the rooftop solar project at the agency’s headquarters will be eventually replicated in other offices and warehouses across the country.

Under the agreement, NFA will lease a 100 kiloWatt-peak solar PV system, which is projected to substantially lower its electricity expenses. 

The monthly billing will be calculated based on the net energy output of the solar system, set at a rate 10% lower than prevailing utility prices. 

This cost-saving measure is expected to provide NFA with significant financial relief, allowing it to allocate more resources toward its core mandate of maintaining sufficient rice buffer stocks, according to Lacson.

For the entire NFA network, the total solar capacity will be 5-megawatt peak (MWp).

The MOA also stipulates that ownership of the solar PV system will transfer to NFA after 15 years at no additional cost. —KBK, GMA Integrated News