The Philippines Department of Energy (DoE) has invited comments on the final draft of a new scheme that allows end-users the option to choose renewables as their source of energy.
The Green Energy Option Programme (GEOP) covers all renewable energy technologies.
It mandates the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), its concessionaire National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) and other transmission-based organisations to provide mechanisms for the physical connection and commercial arrangements necessary for projects under the GEOP.
End-users can register with their supplier of electricity, distribution utilities (DUs) or electric cooperatives (ECs) to have their electricity supplied by renewables under the GEOP.
DUs and ECs shall aggregate the demand for each renewable energy source and contract directly with renewables developers.
DoE’s draft noted: “A DU or EC shall not be required to supply an end-user that has exercised the option where such supply will result in an increase in the blended generation which shall be passed through to other end-users of the DU.”
DUs and ECs will also be required to show in monthly billing how much consumption was catered for by renewables.
DoE is asking for comments to be received by 4 September.
Filipino president Rodrigo Duterte recently inaugurated the Philippines' first solar module manufacturing facility with an expanded capacity of 800MW at Santo Tomas, Batangas, owned by renewable energy firm Solar Philippines.