The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has linked up with New Canaan Energy Resources Corp. for the development of a canal-top solar power project at the Agno River integrated irrigation system in Rosales, Pangasinan.
Under the agreement, a study will be conducted determining the financial, socio-economic, technical viabilities as well as the most cost-effective development, construction and operation of the power generation component in the project.
The Agno River integrated irrigation system has a firmed-up service area of 18,162 hectares, benefitting 24,298 farmers and their families from 101 irrigators associations.
NIA did not detail the cost involved but explained the mov is part of the push to optimize the full potential of the irrigation systems as multipurpose water resources for power generation, flood control, domestic water supply, agro-tourism and aquaculture.
In September, the NIA bared the development and construction of solar-powered irrigation (SPI) projects in 183 sites by next year costing P1.72 billion.
The 183 SPI projects are capable of irrigating 2,168 hectares of new areas.
This compares against 147 SPI projects this year costing P1.64 billion.
