Germany’s juwi group has expanded its global footprint to the Philippines with its first project in Mindanao --  the second largest and southernmost major island in the Philippines. juwi has been selected as the preferred EPC partner to build a ground-mounted, grid-connected utility scale solar PV power plant by the project’s sponsors, an international developer and sector focused private equity fund. 

The solar farm is scheduled to be completed by early next year and will have an installed capacity of 6.25 MW. The plant’s 20,500 photovoltaic modules will produce more than 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year. According to juwi, this first solar PV plant is a testament to how renewable energy can supplement day-time peak loads usage, as a viable alternative to traditional diesel power. According to the plant’s owners, it will be one of the largest diesel replacement power plants when it is completed. 

“Many regions in the country heavily depend on fossil fuels or diesel to generate electricity, especially the island-region of Mindanao where load shedding and brownouts are prevalent, renewable energies such as wind and PV solar power can provide a clean, quick and cost-effective alternative," said Kai Klingenhagen, business development manager for juwi in the Philippines.

According to Amiram Roth-Deblon, juwi regional director, Asia-Pacific, juwi has been active in the Philippines since 2010, working closely with developers, investors, local utilities and authorities to focus on realizing utility-scale renewable energy plants where it is needed the most.

Roth Deblon described the Philippines as "one of the fastest growing economies in Asia with great potential for renewable energies.” Due to a projected power deficit forecast for 2015, the Government of the Philippines is currently increasing the volume of power generation from solar energy plants from 50 MW to 500 MW.  Thus, solar power projects that fall below that threshold will be guaranteed rates of return for the duration of 20 years.