SNAP to scale up floating solar portfolio

• SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP)-- the joint endeavor of SN Power of Norway and also Aboitiz Power Corp.-- is wanting to scale up its floating solar portfolio after its pilot project confirmed to be sensible.

The business stated the floating solar project over Magat Dam has actually verified its feasibility, both technical and also commercial.

"The pilot project as well as the initial pre-feasibility research conducted by SNAP on the floating solar have revealed positive outcomes," SNAP president and also CEO Joseph Yu said.

SNAP switched on its very first 200-kilowatt (kw) floating solar project over Magat Dam, its very first non-hydro RE project, in June 2019.

Due to the pilot project's success, the SNAP board has actually approved the project to continue to engineering layout for 67 megawatts (MW).

"We are currently performing an usefulness study to validate the preliminary outcomes and verify the practicality of a commercial-scale project, which might have a capacity of 67 MW or higher - to be placed likewise on the Magat reservoir," Yu stated.

He stated the FS stage is anticipated to run for about 10 to 12 months.

"We have no solid numbers yet on prices that we can divulge at this phase," Yu claimed.

SNAP has and runs the 380-MW Magat hydro on the border of Isabela and Ifugao after it acquired the power property from the federal government in 2007.

Magat was the first privatization deal efficiently ended with significant foreign participation under the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA).

Only the power components of Magat were privatized, the dam as well as its re-regulating facilities downstream are possessed and also kept by the National Irrigation Administration.

Last year, SNAP spent over $400,000 or nearly P24 million, for the pilot floating solar project positioned over a 2,500-square meter location over the Magat reservoir. It partnered with Ocean Sun, a Norwegian floating solar technology company, to mount the facility.

The floating solar center is comprised of 720 solar panels on a circular installment-- whose design is inspired by the Amazon water lily-- kept in place by 4 mooring systems.

The 200-KW center gives internal power to SNAP-Magat's facilities.

SNAP had actually performed cardiovascular test on the pilot project to make certain that the center can hold up against large inflows and also strong tropical cyclones.

The floating solar project's success would motivate the firm to scale up the facility to ensure that the power created may add to its renewable energy capacity as well as to the country's energy safety.

In addition to Magat, SNAP is likewise taking a look at other places for its floating solar expansion.

The firm additionally possesses and runs the 8.5-MW Maris hydro in Isabela, the 105-MW Ambuklao hydro in Benguet, as well as the 140-MW Binga hydro also in Benguet.