SMEs, solar proponents join forces to apply for minigrid franchises

Thousands of small and medium-sized solar companies are joining forces to apply for solar minigrid franchises in Congress, to create the first true electric cooperatives in the Philippines.

Solar business owners, sole proprietors and enthusiasts are pitching together an average of P20,000 per member to form cooperatives, including the First Philippine Solar Cooperative, the Anak Araw Multipurpose Cooperative and the United Solar and Renewable Energy Cooperative. These organizations are part of the Solar Energy Association of the Philippines (SEAP), the country’s largest solar industry association composed of members of Solar Power Philippines, a Facebook group of over 120,000 Filipinos from across the country.

This follows Solar Para Sa Bayan’s application for the country’s first minigrid franchise, which some power companies claimed will unduly benefit one company at the expense of others.

In a statement, SEAP said: “We believe Solar Para Sa Bayan’s franchise paves the way for others to secure the same. The solar industry has long needed a solution like this, and now one company is proving it is possible, our members are coming together to apply for their own franchises.”

“I am confident the minigrid market will grow as more companies apply for their own franchises. Filipinos will get more choices, and this is will be a great opportunity for the energy industry to benefit both SMEs and consumers down to the barangay level,” said RC Alcazar, a solar enthusiast and founding member of a solar cooperative.

“Now that solar coops give smaller businesses like ours an equal opportunity to work on minigrids, we can leverage on this network to reach the different parts of the country where we are based,” said Glenda Alcano, a prospective member of a solar cooperative based in Mindanao.

“Many people want to get into the solar business, and now we finally have a solution. I think this has the potential to be what electric cooperatives were origi- nally meant to be, a source of power of, for and by the people,” said Thomas Mallilin, a founding member of another solar cooperative.

Solar Para Sa Bayan has organized several open forums to discuss its proposed Minigrid franchise and provide advice to groups that wish to apply for the same.

Addressing 80 attendees in one recent open forum, Solar Para Sa Bayan president Leandro Leviste said: “We’re glad to see so many people interested to join this movement. One company cannot solve all our country’s problems alone. The more of us are committed to work together on constructive solutions, the faster we can bring cheap, clean, reliable electricity to every Filipino.”