THE Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) aims to provide millions of customers with green, sustainable energy as it partners with Repower Energy Development Corp. (REDC) in harnessing the country's hydroelectric power capabilities.

The two companies signed a joint-venture agreement to build and develop mini-hydropower plants using run-of-river resources, for renewable and efficient energy production while minimizing environmental impact.

REDC has over 100 megawatt of mini-hydropower projects under development clustered in Quezon, Bukidnon and other provinces. This represents a $400-million investment in mini-hydropower development. Its next ground breaking is the Upper Labayat project in Quezon, scheduled for the first quarter of 2016. REDC, through its subsidiary Philippine Power and Development Co., has three operating mini-hydropower plants all in Laguna. The operating plants sell the power output to Meralco.

"Our wide experience in working with sustainable-energy sources has allowed us to maximize its potential through our long-term approach of using best of breed international technologies combined with local excellence in deployments" said Dexter Y. Tiu, REDC chief executive.

This joint venture with Meralco for mini-hydropower projects will use the feed-in-tariff scheme mandated by the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, where the rate is guaranteed by the government for 20 years at P5.90 per kiloWatt-hour.

By partnering with REDC, the initiative marks Meralco's first foray into mini-hydropower development, a renewable-energy source set to bring forth more than $40 million in annual savings while reducing the country's carbon-dioxide emissions. The power generator and distributor sees the Philippines's abundant water resources as a key to giving millions of consumers more affordable access to electricity that is clean, sustainable and renewable.

The joint venture will lead to a series of project groundbreaking of mini-hydropower plants starting from the first half of 2016 in select regions, following REDC's vision for its clustered development strategy. The clustered system uses the same transmission lines, infrastructure development, and other fixed costs that result in economies of scale.

Heeding the government's call for more renewable- energy sources, REDC excels through operational efficiency, focused redevelopment and the introduction of the latest European technology for energy-production optimization. This joint venture's first set of hydropower plants will be operational by 2019.

For its technical expertise, REDC has, likewise, tapped Manny M. Vergel III of Vergel Consult, the country's only Filipino World Bank consultant on mini-hydropower plants, to pursue its projects. Vergel, who is often regarded as "The Father of Mini-hydropower in the Philippines," has brought more than a dozen mini-hydropower plants to operation from inception.

REDC is a subsidiary of Pure Energy Holdings Corp.

Repower Energy Development Corporation has over 100 megawatts (MW) of mini-hydropower projects in Quezon, Bukidnon, and other provinces.

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) partnered with Repower Energy Development Corporation (REDC) to build and to develop mini-hydropower plants in some parts of the Philippines, which will be operational by 2019.

REDC said these mini-hydropower plants will use run-of-river resources "for renewable and efficient energy production while minimizing environmental impact."

REDC has over 100 megawatts (MW) of mini-hydropower projects in Quezon, Bukidnon, and other provinces under development. This represents a $400-million investment in mini-hydropower development.

It is scheduled to start the construction of the Upper Labayat project in Quezon in the first quarter of 2016.

REDC, through its subsidiary Philippine Power and Development Company (Philpodeco), has 3 operating mini-hydropower plants in Laguna. The operating plants in Laguna sell the power output to Meralco, REDC said.

"Our wide experience in working with sustainable energy sources has allowed us to maximize its potential through our long-term approach of using best of breed international technologies combined with local excellence in deployments," REDC CEO Dexter Y. Tiu said in a statement.

Its joint venture with Meralco for mini-hydropower projects will avail of the feed-in-tariff (FIT) scheme mandated by the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, where the rate is guaranteed by the government for 20 years at P5.9 ($0.12) per kilowatt hour.

"By partnering with REDC, the initiative marks Meralco's first foray into mini-hydropower development, a renewable energy source set to bring forth more than $40-million in annual savings, while reducing the country's carbon dioxide emissions," REDC said.

The power generator and distributor said it sees the Philippine's abundant water resources as key to providing consumers "more affordable access to electricity."

REDC said its partnership with Meralco will lead to a series of project ground breaking of mini-hydropower plants starting from the first half of 2016 in select regions.

The clustered system uses the same transmission lines, infrastructure development, and other fixed costs that result in economies of scale.

This joint venture's first set of hydropower plants will be operational by 2019.

REDC said it has tapped Manny M. Vergel III of Vergel Consult — the country's only Filipino World Bank consultant on mini-hydropower plants — to pursue its projects.

Manny M. Vergel III, who is regarded as the father of mini hydropower in the Philippines, brought more than a dozen mini-hydropower plants to operation.

REDC is a subsidiary of Pure Energy Holdings Corporation.

MANILA ELECTRIC Co. (Meralco) has signed a joint venture agreement with Repower Energy Development Corp. (REDC) to build and develop mini-hydropower plants, representing its first foray into mini-hydropower development.

In a statement released over the weekend, REDC said the project, which will be using run-of-river resources, is expected to bring $40 million in annual savings while reducing the country's carbon dioxide emissions.

REDC said the venture with Meralco will avail of the feed-in-tariff scheme mandated by the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, which offers a guaranteed payments on a fixed per kilowatt-hour for electricity from wind, solar, ocean, hydropower and biomass energy sources. The government-guaranteed rate for 20 years is P5.90 per kilowatt-hour.

Dexter Y. Tiu, REDC chief executive officer, said the company's wide experience in working with sustainable energy sources had allowed it to maximize their potential through a long-term approach of "using best of breed international technologies combined with local excellence in deployments."

REDC said it has over 100 megawatts (MW) of mini-hydropower projects being developed in Quezon, Bukidnon and other provinces, which represents an investment of $400 million.

The company is set to start another project in Labayat, Quezon in the first quarter of 2016.

Last month, REDC acquired Philippine Power and Development Co., owner of the country's three oldest operating mini-hydropower plants. These plants in Laguna sell their power output to Meralco, the country's largest electricity distributor.

REDC said the joint venture with Meralco paves the way for several mini-hydropower projects breaking ground starting in the first half of 2016 in several regions under the company's "clustered development strategy." The strategy uses the same transmission lines, infrastructure development, and other fixed costs that result in economies of scale, it said.

REDC, a subsidiary of Pure Energy Holdings Corp., said it had tapped World Bank consultant Manny M. Vergel III of Vergel Consult for the projects. It said Mr. Vergel had brought more than a dozen mini-hydropower plants from inception to operation.

Meralco is keen on entering into renewable energy projects and has been looking for opportunities in solar and wind resources.

Last week, Oscar S. Reyes, Meralco president and chief executive officer, said the company was continuing to look at the renewables market and would first focus on a solar project.

He declined to put a figure as initial investment but placed an "aspirational" target capacity of up to 100 MW under a new entity that will be called "MSpectrum."

He said the company would look into "supporting rooftop solar" within Meralco's franchise area "without prejudice to going into other areas where there is an opportunity." The first target customers, he said, would be big commercial and industrial companies.

Meralco provides power to more than 5.5 million customer accounts in 34 cities and 77 municipalities. The franchise area includes Metro Manila, the provinces of Rizal, Cavite and Bulacan, and parts of the provinces of Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna and Quezon.

"All our projects will require financing... all our projects are joint ventures," Mr. Reyes said. "I think we're looking at 70-30% equity for all of these projects."

"I think the markets are still good. But markets will change over time especially as the [US Federal Reserve] has started its interest rate increase. We'll just have to watch how moderate or how fast those interest rate changes will be because that will reflect on the cost financing," he said.

Mr. Reyes said the company's investments in renewables would be separate from its capital expenditure next year of P17.5 billion to P18 billion, which is largely for Meralco. The allocation, which stays in the range that the company previously disclosed, does not include outlay for power generation, he said.

Meralco's controlling stakeholder, Beacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc., is partly owned by Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT).

Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has interest in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.

MANILA, Philippines - Local renewable energy developer Repower Energy Development Corp. (REDC) has acquired the country's three oldest operating mini-hydropower plants for P300 million.

The company led by businessman Dexter Tiu completed the acquisition after the takeover of Philippine Power and Development Co. (Philpodeco).

Following the acquisition, REDC said it would upgrade these plants located in Balugbog, Calibato and Palapakin, all in Laguna, with the latest run-of-river systems technology.

These enhancements will increase the current output of the Balugbog, Calibato and Palapakin hydro plants by more than four-fold, or generating over 11 Gigawatt-hours (GWh) of clean, renewable energy annually.

"The beauty of these plants is that you know that the system has been operating for the last 88 years, and with the current hydrology study completed, it will still be productive for the next 100. The fact that these plants were not efficiently run by the former management, using only band aid solutions to mitigate problems, we are going to change all that through investment in technology and infrastructure," REDC CEO Dexter Y. Tiu said.

These projects were recommended for structural and civil works upgrades by Manny V. Vergel III of Vergel3 Consult Inc., the only Filipino World Bank consultant on mini-hydropower.

Based on Vergel's study on the hydrology of the region, the existing water resources can support bigger capacity plants through the implementation of advanced technology and upgrading of the civil works.

Established in 1927, Philpodeco is the pioneer and longest running operator of mini-hydropower plants in the country.

Before World War II, the company founded by the Americans and some Filipinos had already put up four hydro plants in Laguna and purchased the Sta. Cruz and Sto. Tomas electric plants, supplying electricity to the municipalities of Majayjay, Magdalena, Sta. Cruz, Pila, Victoria, Bay, Los Baños, Calamba and Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

During the 60's, Philpodeco used to serve 39 percent of Laguna, generating 12 million kilowatt hours (kWh) or 70 percent of the capacity produced by its plants while the remaining 30 percent was purchased from Botocan and the National Power Corp.

Philpodeco continued to operate these three plants which have been supplying bulk power to Meralco since July 1, 1983.

REDC said the takeover of Philpodeco's hydro plants is just one of its initiatives to promote environmentally, friendly renewable energy generation.

Aside from Laguna, the RE firm is also developing over 50 megawatts of mini-hydropower plants in the provinces of Quezon, and Bukidnon.

Groundbreaking of these greenfield plants are scheduled within months of each other, with the first one scheduled next week.

To deliver more than 4-fold increase in renewable energy production.

Repower Energy Development Corporation (REDC) has acquired Philippine Power and Development Company (Philpodeco), owner of the country's three oldest operating mini-hydropower plants.

With the acquisition, REDC is looking to multiply these plants' output after a P300-million overhaul, the company said in a statement.

Investing millions for the thorough renewal of the structural and civil works of the Balugbog, Calibato and Palapakin hydro plants was recommended by Manny V. Vergel III of Vergel3 Consult Inc., the only Filipino World Bank consultant on mini-hydropower.

According to his comprehensive study on the hydrology of the region, the existing water resources can support bigger capacity plants through the implementation of advanced technology and upgrading of the civil works.

REDC will upgrade these Laguna-based low-impact hydro plants, with the latest run-of-river systems technology. Such systems basically generate energy by utilizing water in a reliable and controlled manner.

This advanced system, among other deployments increases the height of the existing weirs, which raise the water level and ensure constant water supply, minimizing the hydro plants' impact on the environment.

REDC's enhancements will increase the current output of the Balugbog, Calibato and Palapakin hydro plants by more than four-fold, or generating more than 11 Gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable energy annually.

"The beauty of these plants is that you know that the system has been operating for the last 88 years, and with the current hydrology study completed, it will still be productive for the next 100."

"The fact that these plants were not efficiently run by the former management, using only band-aid solutions to mitigate problems, we are going to change all that through investment in technology and infrastructure." says Dexter Y. Tiu, REDC Chief Executive.

Established in 1927, Philpodeco is the pioneer and longest running operator of mini-hydropower plants in the Philippines.

Before the Second World War, the company founded by the Americans and some Filipinos had already put up four hydro plants in Laguna. It purchased the Sta. Cruz and Sto. Tomas electric plants, supplying electricity to the municipalities of Majayjay, Magdalena, Sta. Cruz, Pila, Victoria, Bay, Los Baños, Calamba and Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

During the war, Philpodeco continued its operations under the Taiwan Denki Kaisha of the Japanese Military Administration.

During the sixties, Philpodeco, utilizing its 4 hydro plants then, served 39 percent of Laguna's people, generating 12 million kWh – 70 percent of which was produced by Philpodeco's plants, while the remaining 30 percent was purchased from Botocan and NPC.

Philpodeco continued to supply electricity to 11 of Laguna's municipalities until the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos issued a presidential decree in 1983, stating that Meralco had to take over Philpodeco's distribution lines.

Meralco could not buy the hydropower plants as the law then precluded a distributor like Meralco to be a power generator. Philpodeco continued to operate these three plants, supplying bulk power to Meralco since July 1, 1983 up to today.

This takeover of Philpodeco's hydro plants is just one of REDC's initiatives to promote environmentally friendly renewable energy generation. Aside from Laguna, REDC is also developing more thann 50 MW of mini hydropower plants in the provinces of Quezon, and Bukidnon.

Ground breaking of these greenfield plants are scheduled within months of each other, with the first ground breaking scheduled for next week.

Established just two years ago while the country was grappling with inadequate energy supply, REDC has become a frontrunner in the hydro energy industry, introducing modern European technology for hydropower energy production optimization.

REDC backs the Philippine government's call for more investments in renewable energies. Their projects promotes environmental sustainability and have a significant impact on the country's buoyant urban and economic growth.

MANILA - Repower Energy Development Corporation (REDC) has acquired Philippine Power and Development Company (Philpodeco) to boost its renewable energy production.

Philpodeco is the owner of the Balugbog, Calibato and Palapakin hydro plants, the country's three oldest operating mini-hydropower plants.

REDC will upgrade these Laguna-based plants with the latest run-of-river systems technology.

"Such systems basically generate energy by utilizing water in a reliable and controlled manner. This advanced system, among other deployments, increases the height of the existing weirs, which raise the water level and ensure constant water supply, minimizing the hydro plants' impact on the environment," REDC said in a statement.

The enhancements include increasing the current output of the three hydro plants by more than four-fold, or generating over 11 gigawatt-hours of clean, renewable energy annually.

"The beauty of these plants is that you know that the system has been operating for the last 88 years, and with the current hydrology study completed, it will still be productive for the next 100. The fact that these plants were not efficiently run by the former management, using only band aid solutions to mitigate problems, we are going to change all that through investment in technology and infrastructure," REDC chief executive Dexter Tiu said.

Aside from Laguna, REDC is also developing over 50 megawatts of mini hydropower plants in Quezon, and Bukidnon.