2,000 Hectares of Laguna de Bay Eyed for Floating Solar

Around 2,000 hectares of the Laguna de Bay will be offered by the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) to be used for floating solar projects. On February 2, the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Laguna de Bay (LDB) Renewable Energy Resources Utilization of 2022 was issued by the LLDA where it was noted that “an initial pre-determined area of not more than 2,000 hectares in the LDB is hereby allocated for REU (renewable energy utilization) projects.”

Bidding will be held in line with the allocation and grant of renewable energy areas (REA) wherein the minimum bid price is set at ₱6 per square meter under the Implementing Rules and Regulations. Various REAs are within the east, south, and west bays of the LDB near the substations of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines and Manila Electric Co.

A maximum of 100 hectares per block may be allocated for each developer applicant and winning bidders will have to cover the development, commissioning, and operation of the project. An REU contract will likewise be awarded which will be effective for 25 years but subject to the LLDA’s review every 5 years.

Winning bidders will also have to handle their own applications for permits and clearances such as the environmental compliance certificate from the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, an RE contract with the Department of Energy, and a Privilege to Operate Renewable Energy (PORE) issued by the LLDA.

Applications for the bidding of pre-determined areas will only be received once the Implementing Rules and Regulations take effect. The LLDA has been engaging with the DOE in an effort to create a policy for large-scale floating solar projects on LDB. Meralco Powergen Corp. (MGen) is among the interested parties keen on developing such projects over the LDB.

Source: PhilStar