The Mindanao Renewable Energy R&D Center (MREC), hosted at Ateneo de Davao University, has been commissioned by the Department of Science and Technology-Region XI’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (CEST) program to design and set up a 3 KWp Hybrid Grid-Tie Solar Photovoltaic System in the Barangay Hall of Brgy Salaysay, Marilog District, a Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Area (GIDA).
With net metering, the solar PV system will bring down to almost zero the electricity cost of the Barangay Hall, which reduces its operational cost. With battery storage, the barangay hall and the evacuation center will be able to have access to lighting and communication charging even during times of power interruption, and computer works can still be done.
Brgy Salaysay in Marilog is categorized as GIDA due to the historical armed conflicts that have occurred in the area, and the risk of armed conflicts is yet very much around. The evacuation center is a hugely important space in this conflict-stricken site and, with the free lighting and electricity that comes from the solar PV, the evacuation center can continue to serve its purpose as a place for refuge and safety. In this manner, the solar PV technology facilitates peace and recovery for disadvantaged communities.
Text and Images: AdDU Center for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies