Israel–backed technology provides power and food

The Philippines and Israel plan to build a solar farm in Clark, Pampanga which will produce up to 25 megawatts of power.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol said he recently met with Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ben Matityau to pursue collaboration on modern agriculture.

“We agreed to establish a pilot farm where we will showcase solar technology with greenhouse. We are targeting about 50 hectares in Clark,” Pinol said.

“This is a new concept in solar energy production, underneath the solar panels would be greenhouses with controlled temperature to produce high value crops and vegetables,” he added.

Pinol did not say the investment required for the project.

“They will provide the technology and we will provide funding. We target to establish this project before the end of the year,” Pinol said.

“We chose Clark since it is strategic because of its airport facility,” he added.

The project will be in partnership with PNOC Renewables Corp., the renewable energy arm of state-run Philippine National Oil Co.

For every hectare of solar farm with greenhouse, they will be able to produce 0.5 MW, so that would be about 25 MW of power,” Pinol said.

The solar farm is DA’s second project with Israel.

Last January, experts from Israel-based Afimilk Agricultural Cooperative Ltd. visited the country for the implementation of DA’s flagship dairy program,which is intended to develop the industry and lessen dependence on imports.