Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. may invest in around 150 megawatts of solar power projects “on an opportunistic basis,” an official said Wednesday.
Alsons vice president for business development Joseph Nocos told reporters the company would focus on developing renewable energy sources aside from coal projects.
“Our hydro target is 150 MW. Solar, on a opportunistic basis, we’re looking at 150 MW… Our strategy is to expand our capacity according to what the market needs,” Nocos said.
Nocos said Alsons had an available land that could be utilized for solar and that the company was initially looking at 10 MW to 20 MW of solar projects in the next two years.
He also said Alsons was looking at a possible partnership with a Japanese or European company.
“For hydro, we will likely go by our selves along with our partner Toyota Tsusho,” he said.
Alsons earlier teamed up with Toyota Tsusho to build the 210-MW Sarangani coal-fired power plant.
Nocos said the first 105-MW unit of the Sarangani coal plant had started supplying electricity to Mindanao customers. The Sarangani plant is expected to be operating at its full capacity of 210 MW by 2018.
Nocos earlier said there were enough baseload or coal-fired power plants being built in Mindanao.
“We’re looking ahead to what Mindanao grid will need. First, there is enough baseload power plants being built, so we believe there will be adequate baseload in next 10 to 15 years. We’re anticipating an opportunity for generation companies in RE space, mainly hydro,” Nocos told reporters.
The company is pursuing the projects under newly-established Alsons Renewable Energy Corp.
Alsons has received service contracts to build 90 MW of hydro power plants, while applications for another 90 MW of capacity are pending with the Energy Department.
“We expect DoE to decide within the year. If all is approved, we will have 180 MW which we hope to implement in next five years,” Alsons said.
Nocos said the company was moving forward this year with the construction of the 15-megawatt Siguil hydro power plant in Maasim, Sarangani province.
He said the project would be followed by a 40-MW hydro power project in Negros Occidental along the Bago River.
“Except for a 40-MW [hydro in Negros], all projects will be in Mindanao. Two other [hydro projects] in Mindanao could be rolled out in next couple of years,” he said.
Alson’s affiliated power facilities are expected to have a total generating capacity of 588 MW by 2019 that will meet more than 25 percent of Mindanao’s projected peak demand for that year.
Alsons operates three diesel plants that have significantly contributed to alleviating the power shortage in Mindanao.
