SunAsia Energy, a Philippines-based solar developer, and Blueleaf Energy have been selected by the Philippines’ Department of Energy to build and operate six large-scale floating solar projects totalling 610.5 MW. The plants will be installed on Laguna Lake.
The department has issued solar energy operating contracts for 1.3 GW of floating projects.
SunAsia and Blueleaf will partner to build the projects on the surface of the lake, which extends to the cities of Calamba, Sta Rosa and Cabuyao, and to the towns of Bay and Victoria. Department of Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla stated that the department aims to strengthen the renewable energy sector and support the commercialisation of floating solar as an emerging technology. The contract-signing ceremony emphasised the need to accelerate the country’s goal of decarbonisation by 2040.
In 2019, SunAsia began operating a test bed on Laguna Lake to study wave behaviour, wind movement, the intensity of the sun and variations in temperature. This has contributed to the growing understanding of solar panels’ operation on the lake. The panels will be cooled down by the water on which they rest, increasing their efficiency compared with a land-based solar system.
REGlobal’s Views: Floating solar is increasingly becoming popular in regions where land is a constraint. Such projects will help the Philippines to reach the targeted 46 GW of solar power by 2040.
