A 2,000-hectare Floating Photovoltaic (FPV) or floating solar plant in Laguna de Bay, with 1880.5 megawatts that can power over two million homes is no small feat but so are the possible economic, social, and environmental implications of such a giant project.
Last year, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released Administrative Order (AO) No. 2023-08 which was a guideline set by the DENR and Department of Energy (DOE) that would make sure that the implications of the project would be thoroughly studied.
βThe installation, operation, and decommissioning of FPVs may potentially have unintended environmental impacts, making it crucial to establish a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulatory framework that incorporates careful planning and management, with the aim of ensuring the sustainable development of FPVs and mitigating potential environmental risks,β the orderβs rationale reads.
The guidelines also cover FPV plants issued with an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) β a must-have for the project to proceed β prior to the issuance of the AO.
Guidelines again?
However, the DENRβs Region IV-A office said that guidelines specifically for these floating solar projects are under review after complaints from fisherfolks and environmentalists on economic, social, and environmental concerns showing that their first guidelines are insufficient.
βSa kasalukuyan po ay nirerevisit at binabalangkas ang patakaran sa pagtatayo ng mga solar farm sa ibabaw ng katubigan dahil may implikasyon po kapag kinoveran mo ang isang anyong tubig, meron yang buhay ilang doon sa ilalim ng tubig at baka maapektuhan na maharangan ang sikat ng araw,β DENR IV-A Executive Director Nilo Tamoria said during a recent βKapihan sa Bagong Pilipinasβ forum.
βNirerevisit ang patakarang ito dahilan pa rin po sa maraming proponent talaga ang gustong magtayo ng solar farm project sa ibabaw ng katubigan,β he added.
However, DENR is only responsible for the issuance of ECCs; the Laguna Lake Development Authority regulates the Lake while DOE issues operating contracts.
GMA News reported that SunAsia just secured 10 solar energy operating contracts (SEOC) last month and will begin construction next year.
Bilyonaryo also reported that Blueleaf Energy Philippines is targeting to start construction of their FPV project by the fourth quarter of this year and operational by 2026.
Red flags?
This suggests that though the government admits possible environmental damage caused by these projects, they will only go as far as revisiting guidelines.
Other problems like the 22 reclamation projects reported by OpinYon Rizal earlier this year, microplastics found by researchers, fish kill, the shallowing depth of the lake, and the recently approved Laguna Lakeshore Road Network are not enough to lead to the realization that were killing the 90,000-hectare source of aqua life.
It seems as though these billion-dollar FPV projects will push on no matter what and what they call βeconomic progressβ will continue to suck the life out of the already dying lake.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #DENR #DOE