THE Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) signed memoranda of agreement (MOAs) with the local government units (LGUs) of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and Paranas, Samar for the installation of 108.84 kilowatts (kW) of rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for their respective municipal buildings.
ICSC said in a statement on Tuesday the agreements signed last week will kickstart the uptake of renewable energy (RE) at the local level.
The projects are set to be completed within the year which will increase the LGUs’ energy independence and self-sufficiency amid frequent power interruptions and blackouts in the entire Samar Island.
These will also reduce power costs and increase savings while helping bring down greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on fossil fuels.
Under the MOAs, the LGUs of Guiuan and Paranas will operate and maintain their respective hybrid photovoltaic systems to be donated and installed by ICSC.
The agreements also mandate the LGUs to apply for net metering with their respective distribution utilities to enable them to sell their surplus electricity back to the grid, especially those generated during weekends when there are no operations at the municipal building.
The LGUs are also mandated to craft a rooftop-mounted solar power station roadmap that will identify the solar potential of public buildings in their municipalities and pass a municipal RE ordinance institutionalizing rooftop-mounted solar in their respective locales.
