DOE endorses 9 power projects for grid impact study

By Alena Mae S. Flores – August 6, 2023, 5:25 pm
from manilastandard.net

The Department of Energy issued clearances to nine power projects with combined capacity of 3,606 megawatts to undertake system impact studies in July 2023.

It endorsed the application of the nine companies to grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines for the conduct of the SIS, which will determine the capacity of the power grid to accommodate new generators and identify necessary improvements needed such as additional transmission lines, transformers or substations.

The biggest project endorsed for SIS is Atimonan One Energy Inc.’s proposed 1,280-MW natural gas-fired combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Barangay Villa Ibaba, Atimonan, Quezon.

The department also endorsed Exa Wind Energy Corp.’s 500-MW Bicol wind power project; Upward Wind Energy Corp.’s 500-MW Camarines Sur wind power project; GigaWind4 Inc.’s 170-MW Banahaw wind power project in Sariaya, Quezon; Tera Renewables 4 Corp.’s 181-MW Infanta 2 solar power project in Infanta, Quezon; and Arcana Wind Energy Corp.’s 400-MW Quezon-Camarines Norte wind power project in Camarines Norte and Quezon.

The other endorsed projects are Giga Ace 8 Inc.’s 300-MW solar project in Zambales; Renovable Earth Corp.’s 75-MW Sual solar power project in Sual, Pangasinan; and Gemini Wind Energy Corp.’s 200-MW Gemini wind power project in Samar.

NGCP earlier said that due to the increasing demand for power generation in the country, the number of applications for SIS surged significantly.  It committed to expediting the approval process.

NGCP said measures to address the SIS backlog forms part of the company’s extensive plan to meet the country’s increasing energy requirements.

The DOE asked NGCP and the SIS providers to complete the study within a 60-day period.  The DOE has endorsed 74 companies for SIS since January.