Osmena says solar power subsidies an ‘unnecessary’ burden

By Jonathan de Santos
Saturday, June 11, 2011

A PLAN BY the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB) to prioritize solar energy will burden consumers by around P1.7 billion a year, the Senate chairman of the Joint Congressional Power Commission warned Friday.
Senator Sergio Osmena III said the NREB’s allocation of 100MW of the country’s renewable energy mix is too expensive and should be deferred until the cost of solar panels goes down. Osmena said the cost of solar panels is expected to be halved in the next five years.
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“That would be the proper time to consider using solar energy, a P9/kWh rate for 20 years would certainly be more tolerable,” he said.
The senator said the current feed-in tariff (FIT) for solar energy, at P17.95 kWh, is too expensive considering there are cheaper alternative sources of energy.
The FIT is an extra charge that consumers will have to pay to encourage power producers to invest in renewable energy. This will cost consumers around P1.7 billion a year for the first three years. The subsidy will be lower, at P1.4 billion, in the last 17 years of FITs, the senator said.
For mini-hydro power, the FIT, is P6.15/kWh. Biomass energy, meanwhile, will have an FIT of P7.00/kWh while wind power will have an FIT of P7.00/kWh.
“The NREB proposal for on-grid solar energy is like buying a Mercedes Benz when there are still Hyundais, Nissans, and Toyotas available at less than half the price,” Osmeña explained.
Only energy from the ocean is as expensive, but Osmena said the NREB only allocated 10MW for it since it is an experimental technology.
“Spain and Germany have suddenly cut their solar programs, finding them horrendously expensive. If those rich nations cannot afford solar, how much more a country like the Philippines?” the senator also said.
He said solar power will be good for off-grid users and that he supported the construction of a 20MW solar plant in Mindanao but that the rest of the allocation should instead be given to biomass and mini-hydro power.
He explained that biomass power, from waste or from ethanol, can provide farmers with extra income while mini-hydro power plants can also be used for irrigation.
“The DOE should exercise extreme caution in the implementation of the FIT System considering that it imposes additional costs on the consumers particularly in the early years. Solar energy, if introduced in haste, will unnecessarily burden the consumer,” Osmeña added.
But according to Tetchie Capellan, president of the Philippine Solar Power Alliance, the feed-in tariffs will actually only cost consumers an extra P0.12/kWH.
She said paying the small extra charge is like paying monthly payments on a house, except that with just an extra P0.12/kWH, consumers get a power plant.
Capellan added the FIT will be subject to review on the third year, and will already be six percent lower after the first year.
She added the Renewable Energy law requires support for developing technologies from solar but does not specify which technologies will
be given priority.
She said waiting until solar panels are cheaper will mean the Philippine solar power industry will not be able to grow.
“If you wait until it’s cheaper, then we’ll just be importers. There will be no reason for us to make our own solar panels,” she said. (Jonathan de Santos/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/06/11/osmena-says-solar-power-subsidies-unnecessary-burden-160529

Clark Wine Center is more than a wine shop to people living in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone. Clark’s wine shop is also a popular venue for parties and family gatherings. Conveniently located on the main highway of Clark Philippines, it is accessible to guests from Manila, Subic, Pampanga, Angeles City and of course those who live and work in Clark. Aside from the 2-storey wine shop which also has a nice roof deck lawn for small party of up to 80 people as well as an indoor wine tasting room which accommodates up to 60 comfortably, this wine store called Clark Wine Center also has one hectare of picnic grounds surrounding it.

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Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

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Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

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YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Chay

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

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Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
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Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com