Solar FIT Race Deadline

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Energy (DOE) through the Renewable Energy Management Bureau is ready to validate the projects of renewable energy (RE) developers rushing to meet the 15 March 2016 deadline for the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) System for Solar.

The procedure for the Certificate of Endorsement (COE) for FIT Eligibility was outlined in the Department Circular No. DC2013-05-0009 entitled “Guidelines for the Selection Process of RE Projects under FIT System and the Award of the Certificate for FIT Eligibility.”

Under DC2013-05-0009, the DOE is tasked to validate “successful commissioning” and affirm the date of start of commercial operations within 15 working days from the date thereof, and issue the COE-FIT Eligibility on a first-come-first-serve basis. RE developers may request for validation at 80% electro-mechanical completion of the project. As a gentle reminder, only RE developers with complete documentary requirements for solar energy projects, including a valid Renewable Energy Service Contract (RESC) and confirmed Declaration of Commerciality (DOC), shall be considered and shall be required to send a formal letter addressed to the DOE Secretary for final validation.

The validation activities shall be based on the approved DOC, particularly on the designed development scheme, and any deviation shall be subject to prior approval of the DOE. Only projects which are 100% commissioned and in commercial operation upon final validation will be eligible for COE-FIT.

The DOE will issue the COE-FIT Eligibility until the full subscription of the installation target. The COE-FIT Eligibility will indicate the installed capacity that will be qualified for the FIT rate and the actual date of Commercial Operations as basis for commencement of FIT charge.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada emphasized that “We are committed to a transparent award of the COE-FIT Eligibility and remind all RE developers to observe the procedures under the existing guidelines.”

It may be recalled that the installation target for solar FIT System was amended from 50 to 500 megawatts (MW) to be subscribed on or not later than 15 March 2016 by fully commissioned energy generation projects to ensure availability of power supply during the summer periods of 2015 and 2016.

To date, the DOE has issued COE-FIT Eligibility for the seven (7) RESCs with an aggregate capacity of 153.93 MW to the Energy Regulatory Commission for the latter’s issuance of the Certificate of Compliance.