Raslag seeks nod for solar project

BY LENIE LECTURA – APRIL 19, 2022
from Business Mirror

Raslag Corp., a solar power provider owned by the Nepomuceno Group of Companies based in Pampanga, is asking the regulators to approve its application to develop, own, and operate a dedicated point-to-point transmission facility for its 18megawatt (MW) Raslag-3 solar power project.

The output of Raslag-3 will be injected to the grid via an interim connection to the 69kV Mexico-Clark Line 1 of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The connection will then be transferred to the 69kV Clark-Mabiga Line 1 once the said NGCP line is completed.

In its application filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), the company said that since Raslag-3 is 2.4 kilometers from the NGCP line, a switching station will be constructed near NGCP’s Tower 69 as the proposed tapping point. From the plant, “a 3phase, 336-MCM ASCR wires will run through 50 units of 60-footer poles up to the connection point.” Raslag proposed that the dedicated point-to-point facility will be owned, operated and used exclusively by Raslag. It said that the proposed 2.4km dedicated point-to-point facility is the most economical and technically feasible solution to connect Raslag-3 to the grid since the NGCP-operated Mexico substation is located 21.1 km away while the Clark substation is 11.8km away.

Raslag announced last week that it is scheduled to energize Raslag-3 on May 2.  “Raslag is urgently praying for an authority to develop and own a dedicated point-to-point limited transmission facility to connect Raslag-3 to the grid” so it can provide a much needed boost to energy security as this is the period when yellow and red alerts are historically issued by NGCP. Also, the solar power project can help stabilize power supply in Luzon before the May elections.

The ERC will hear Raslag’s application on April 22 and 29. The power firm will have to comply with the jurisdictional requirements, expository presentation, presentation of evidence, and pre-trial conference during the said dates.

Raslag-3’s output will be offered to the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market as a merchant plant but will eventually venture into offering renewable power supply to distribution utilities and electric cooperatives for their compliance with the Renewable Portfolio Standards and for the Green Energy Auction Program.