Philippines switches on pilot 200kW floating solar power project

The project will go through a pilot test for 10 months and serve house load requirements by the Magat reservoir.

The Philippines has switched on its first 200kW floating solar power project, an announcement revealed.

The pilot facility is the first non-hydro project of local renewable energy company SN Aboitiz Power-Magat (SNAP). Located in the 1,170- hectare Magat reservoir, the purpose-built facility was designed to withstand disruptive weather conditions and strong typhoons.

The project will go through a pilot test for 10 months, and will serve house load requirements of SNAP’s Magat hydro. If successful, SNAP said it will look into scaling up the project so that the power generated may contribute to its renewable energy capacity and to the country’s energy security.

Alfonso Cusi, secretary for the Department of Energy (DOE) of the Philippines, noted that the potential of floating solar would provide a much-needed boost to the energy supply, as the country demand for power reaches 11,000MW.

The project is part of a partnership between Norwegian solar energy firm Ocean Sun and solar module provider GCL-SI.