Zamboanga Ecozone is now solar-powered

THE Zamboanga City Special Economic Zone Authority and Freeport now takes power from the sun.

Located in San Ramon, it is the only special economic zone for Visayas and Mindanao, and today, it is the only solar-powered special economic zone in Mindanao. 

“It is one of our mandates to come up with a project that will sustain our electricity (supply) by way of renewables. It is beneficial to us to have this type of solar project because it will lessen our cost of electricity,” said Zambo Ecozone Chairman and Administrator, Raul Regondola.  

The grid-tied solar rooftop system was installed by Greenergy Solar, Mindanao’s first commercial solar service provider. According to project manager, Engineer Remuel Aca-ac, the system was originally contracted for 60 kilowatts. However, Greenergy went the extra mile to install 113 solar panels and at 540 watts each thus, the system is now able to supply over the contracted capacity at peak generation.

 

“We are always eager to support government agencies and institutions who are going green by way of their electricity supply. The management of the Zamboanga Ecozone is taking great leadership in clean energy not only in Mindanao but the entire Philippines and they must be emulated,” said Greenergy Solar Chief of Operations, Andrew Donggay.

 

The Zambo Ecozone is poised to be the leading example for local government offices of other municipalities in using electricity from sources that are renewable and without dirty pollution. Solar energy not only makes the air cleaner and clearer, it also makes the country more energy-independent while contributing to climate action and sustainable development.

 

Aca-ac said this move by the Ecozone to rely on solar energy also benefits its locators because of the reduced cost of electricity in the long run. He makes further note of the high return of investment. “The payback time is only about five years,” he said.

 

Regondola looks on the long-term benefits in his office’s clamoring for renewable energy. “I am recommending (solar) to other ecozones and similar stakeholders,” he said. (With additional report from The Mindanao Examiner)