Semirara Mining and Power Corporation subsidiary Sem­Calaca Power Corporation (SCPC) recently installed 38 solar street lamps worth P2.4 million in Brgy. Baclaran, Balayan, Batangas.

The 20­watt LED lamps can run for 12 hours using electricity converted from sunlight by photovoltaic panels. The energy generated by the panels are stored in batteries and can be used to power the lamps from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Manufactured locally in Cavite, the street lamps are intended to help secure the safety and maintain peace and order for over 2,500 residents, motorists and commuters in Brgy. Baclaran.

SCPC plans to install similar solar street lamps in two other communities. Barangays Dacanlao and San Rafael will have 34 and 32 solar street lamps, respectively.

“We believe that conventional and renewable energy can, and should, go together. What is important is finding the right energy mix to secure the growing power requirements of consumers,” said SCPC President and COO Victor A. Consunji.

SCPC is a baseload supplier to the Luzon Grid, generating over 500MW of energy from its Calaca power plant in Batangas. The DMCI group bought the plant from the Philippine government in July 2009.