1.12MW worth of solar energy now on PHL rooftops

The total installed capacity of solar energy on home and establishment rooftops has reached 1.12 megawatts as of December 2012, the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) announced Tuesday. The figure, said PSPA founder and spokesperson Tetchi Cruz-Capellan, is an encouraging sign of the public's growing awareness of, and appreciation for, the economic and environmental benefits of solar power. The Asian Development Bank has the largest solar rooftop installation in the Philippines. The 574-kilowatt-capacity solar power system installed on the roof of its Ortigas headquarters makes up more than half of the country's current installed solar capacity. For every rooftop installation, the solar power output is synchronized with the electric power from the distribution lines. According to Capellan, actual grid-tied installation, data from installations showing the viability of low-voltage interconnectivity and the technical exchange from donor countries have addressed utility firms' concerns about grid instability brought about by the combination of the two power sources. The PSPA also claimed that as much as 25 percent in savings on electricity bills have been reported by homes and offices using solar technology. PSPA's aim this year is to double the country's total installed solar rooftop capacity to 2.5 megawatts installed. The government is currently considering allowing homes and businesses to receive credits for producing solar energy and exporting solar power to the grid in excess of consumption. — BM, GMA News