EU seeks clear rules on solar energy use

By Riza Lozada

The European Union (EU) had sought a clearer policy on the installation of solar panels on rooftops of factories.

The EU explained that in the Renewable Energy (RE) Act of 2008, the propagation of large rooftop installations for self consumption “as in Chapter 5, Section 13 it only excludes the 100 KW installations from the 1-percent share of the gross income.”

“Large rooftops on factories are not addressed. As there is no income from energy sales, in practice they are not subject to a 1-percent percent contribution. This needs to be clearer in the RE law.”

Recently, the third bilateral meeting between the EU and the Philippines discussed the need to double the energy generation capacity in the next 10 years, with the EU giving support the high level utilization of renewable energy.

At the bilateral meeting were the Department of Energy Officer- in-Charge Secretary Zenaida Monsada, EU Ambassador Guy Ledoux and European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines’ President Michael Raeuber.

The EU had sponsored the SWITCH project, which developed action plans for each energy-consuming sector.

Germany has provided technical assistance for the formulation of the Philippines Renewable Energy Act, while European investors were involved in the upgrading of the Malampaya gas offshore platform or the establishment of the solar power plant in Negros Oriental.

Ledoux said energy is one of the priority areas for the EU’s development cooperation program with the Philippines in the next six years.

The EU has committed P12 billion for cooperation in the field of energy for 2014 to 2020.

Initially, P3 billion were provided to support the Department of Energy (DOE).

The program will focus on supporting the DOE’s 90 percent electrification target through policy reforms, supporting existing electrification programs and the deployment of RE technologies and innovative energy solutions for the poor.

Monsada said the DOE welcomes the continuing interest and support of the EU in the energy sector, particularly in electrification, RE and energy efficiency.

The DOE looks forward to a more fruitful collaboration and cooperation with the EU in the coming years, she said.