GEF CEPALCO PV

completed

Cagayan Electric Power & Light Co., Inc. (CEPALCO) proposes to construct a 1MW photovoltaic (PV) electricity generating power plant in Cagayan de Oro City in the Philippines. The plant will be connected to the CEPALCO distribution system and is to be operated in conjunction with the existing 7MW Bubunawan hydroelectric plant, which supplies electricity to the same distribution system. Adding the PV power plant to CEPALCO''s distribution system will allow the reduction of hydroelectricity generation during daytime, when PV generation is available, in order to augment hydroelectric output from the saved water at night or during dry periods. The project will assist CEPALCO to reduce purchasing diesel-generated electricity. The total project cost is estimated to be US$5.8 million. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), acting as an executing agency on behalf of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) in its capacity as an Implementing Agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), intends to finance up to US$4.0 million from GEF resources. IFC considers that the purpose of the GEF funding is to promote a demonstration plant for grid-connected applications of PV power plants in the developing world and to demonstrate the principle of conjunctive PV-hydro peak power generation.