Small Scale Solar PV: Light for the Provinces

Solar Power for the Provinces

With the continues effort to use alternative power in sustaining our industries to as distant as the far flung provinces, solar power has never been this relevant. This is where Green Heat comes into the picture.

Can you picture in your mind how much we complain when a “brownout” happens? Imagine then how residents of remote provinces live without any kind of steady source of electricity.

Power for the Provinces

Since power lines usually cannot make it to their areas due to the terrain and distance. Kerosene lamps are the staple source of light during the evening. Aside from being fire hazards, gas lamps are not quite bright enough reading. Did you know that have been found to produce climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions as well?

Recently, provincial residents of North Luzon, Apayao, Kalinga, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Agusan Del Sur, Lanao Del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Masbate, Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, Zamboanga City, and North Cotabato were surprised when they are able to watch DVD movies, use electric fans and read properly under a light. The culprit sn’t the usual power from utility grids but, solar power!

With Green Heat's solar PV (photovoltaic) panels mounted on roofs or poles, we can harness the sun’s energy and route it through an inverter.

Green Heat International's Nueva Vizcaya installation

Propmech's Green Heat International

The above-mentioned towns are part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Rural Electrification Program. The program was implemented by Propmech Corporation through their solar division, Green Heat. This was done with the cooperation of AMORE (Alliance for Mindanao and multi-regional Renewable Energy development) and UNDP (United Nations Development Program).

Propmech was selected through a bidding process and was able to offer the lowest price and showed that they have the capability and man power to design and install the systems. Propmech is a locally-owned company also engaged in marine engineering.

Solar PV in Masbate

New Development

Over 600 barangays were powered and tailored to the area’s requirement as selected by the DOE with the help of the Electric Cooperative of the Provinces.

Now, a house in any of these locations can generate about 300 to 500 watts per day. Prior to the electrification, these barangays had never had electricity. CFL and LED lights, radios, televisions and DVD players, as well as electric fans are now a common term in these areas. Each house uses different solar home systems ranging from 20 to 300Wp (watt peak), which demonstrates that solar PV as an alternative energy solution can be applied to a relatively smaller scale.

Green Heat

Residents ware able to afford the systems ranging from PhP19,000 to PhP175,000, of course with DOE subsidization and a payment plan. Know more about solar PV systems at www.greenheat-intl.com.

Indeed, solar power, through Green Heat, provided an improved lifestyle for the residents from getting entertained to staying informed and increasing productivity.