Consortium to invest in Palawan microgrid

Archipelago Renewables Corp., the special purpose vehicle of Maharlika Consortium, is investing P1 billion for the construction of a smart microgrid in Palawan.

The consortium is composed of WEnergy Global, Maharlika Clean Power Holdings, and Clean Grid Partners. It recently won as the qualified third party (QTP) provider of the Palawan Electric Cooperative (Paleco).

It will build a distribution network, consisting of approximately 175 kilometers of primary and secondary power lines, that is energized by 3,800 kilowatt (kW) solar, 2,000 kW diesel generators, and batteries with a total capacity of 4,200 kW hour.

It also signed a QTP service contract to energize over 7,100 households and 300 small local businesses through 16 microgrids spread over 14 barangays in seven municipalities across the service area of Paleco in Palawan.

The consortium will be replicating WEnergy Global’s flagship microgrid in varying sizes of microgrids, which has been providing 24/7 electricity to the households and businesses of Barangay Cabayugan, home to the Puerto Princesa Underground River.

According to Quintin Pastrana, President of Maharlika Clean Power, the tender is “unique” for the Philippines since this is the first time that smart and clean microgrids have been packaged for a competitive selection process.

“The Philippines still has over 10 million people with unmet access to electricity. The best technology to electrify the community and boost their productivity for the best tariffs and the lowest reliance on subsidies and dependency on fossil fuels was selected. With this milestone, we can provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy to empower individuals, families, and enterprises in remote communities across Palawan.”

The consortium met the stringent eligibility and renewable energy smart microgrid capability requirements set by Paleco and the Department of Energy (DOE) in a competitive selection process authorized by the DOE and the National Electrification Administration, and undertaken by Paleco’s Bids and Awards Committee.

WEnergy Global official said smart technologies would produce stable quality of electricity in terms of voltage, current and frequency at an affordable cost.

Image credits: www.wenergyglobal.com