The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is eyeing to further maximize the use of existing irrigation systems and future irrigation projects for renewable energy projects and provide additional income generation for the agency.
In a statement, NIA said due to irrigation service fee exemption of farmers with landholding of eight hectares (ha) and below under the Free Irrigation Service Act, the development of hydroelectric power, solar and floating solar power projects is strongly being pursued.
NIA has completed 333 solar-powered irrigation projects nationwide amounting to P1.52 billion that can produce a total of 4,215.33 horsepower of energy, as of end-2021.
The projects are also capable of irrigating a total of 6,482.62 has. of agricultural land, benefitting 8,467 farmers and their families.
NIA has identified 379 potential hydroelectric power sites nationwide, four of which are hosting the following: the 8.5 megawatts (MW) in MARIS main (south) canal in Isabela; the 1 MW Rizal hydropower plant in Nueva Ecija, 1 MW Bulanao mini-hydropower plant in Kalinga; and the 500 kilowatts (kW) Marbel1 in South Cotabato.
The government is also pushing the development of floating solar projects in dams found to be effective in reducing the amount of water lost due to evaporation in reservoirs while maintaining the safety of fish and other organisms to grow.
In 2019, NIA and SN Aboitiz Power Group switched on the 200 kW pilot floating solar project over the Magat reservoir in Ramon, Isabela.
Aside from Magat Dam, NIA said other big dams in the country which can also be installed with floating solar power plants include the Pantabangan dam in Nueva Ecija and the Jalaur dam in Iloilo.
NIA will only approve projects that do not obstruct irrigation water delivery as it is still the primary service of the agency.
