The Leyte provincial government has completed the PHP70-million solar power project that will energize the new capitol complex here, hoping that businesses and households will be encouraged to adopt clean energy.

The provincial government will officially switch on the solar power on Nov. 11 after five months of installation, according to Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla on Monday.

“Our mission is not just to energize the capitol, but to educate people about solar power. We want to see Leyte 20-percent independent from fossil fuel plants. We want each house to have their own solar power system and (be) independent from the rest,” Petilla told reporters.

The solar power system has 500-kilowatt (kW) batteries and 420-kW solar panels installed on both sides of the provincial government complex designated as parking spaces.

Despite the completion of the project, the provincial capitol complex is still connected to the local electric cooperative for “optimal” energy supply augmentation.

The project is expected to save the provincial capital some PHP500,000 from monthly electric bills.

Setting up a solar power system will only cost PHP8 per kilowatt hour (kWh), lower than the PHP14 per kWh charged by electric cooperatives.

“In the past, it was more expensive to have your own solar power system at PHP25 per KWh compared to the electric cooperative’s PHP9 per KWh,” said Petilla, who was the country’s energy secretary from 2012 to 2015.

The high cost of electricity is largely influenced by the rising cost of running a power plant fed by fossil fuels.

Most electric cooperatives in Leyte province get their power supply from GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. based in Mariveles, Bataan. The power source uses coal fuel from abroad. (PNA)