NGCP asks ERC to approve more transmission lines
By Alena Mae S. Flores – June 27, 2024, 7:55 pm
from manilastandard.net
The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) said Thursday it sought the Energy Regulatory Commission’s (ERC) approval for the 500-kV backbone looping and extensions in Luzon and the Leyte-Cebu Interconnection Lines 3 and 4.
It said in a statement the move is a part of the company’s program to continuously expand the power garid through various transmission projects
The NGCP also reiterated its call for a whole-of-government approach to address the growing demand for electricity following the Department of Energy’s (DOE) projection that the country’s peak requirement would double in the next 12 years.
The transmission company said the country should double its power output through the installation of additional power plants to keep up with the economy-driven rise in demand and the continuing capacity degradation of aging power plants to ensure an adequate supply of electricity.
“Objective and informed policy regulation and a fair, investor-friendly recovery process for implemented power transmission projects must also be given priority,” it said.
It gave assurance it is more than ready to accommodate additional generation capacity following the completion of its latest transmission backbone projects.
“Aside from strengthening our transmission network, the recently completed backbone projects allow NGCP to create room for additional generation capacity, whether from conventional or renewable power sources,” the company said.
The new Mariveles-Hermosa-San Jose 500kV transmission line serves as a new 500 kV corridor for bulk power generation from existing power plants and planned incoming generation capacity in the Bataan and Zambales areas.
The new backbone facility has a total transmission capacity of 8,000 MW that significantly enhances power transfer capability.
Apart from accommodating the existing power plants, the Cebu-Negros-Panay 230kV Transmission Backbone adds 800 MW of submarine cable capacity in the interconnections among the islands, and a total of 2,400 MW overhead transmission capacity in Cebu and Negros.
The Mindanao-Visayas interconnection project (MVIP) adds 2,400 MW overhead transmission capacity and allows power sharing between Mindanao and Visayas of up to 450MW of power, expandable to another 450 MW capacity using the installed transmission lines and submarine cables.
The NGCP also completed the Mindanao 230kV Transmission Backbone extensions, which provide an additional transfer capacity of 2,200MW in the north and 2,400MW in the south of the region.
It has ongoing projects such as the Tuy-Dasmarinas 500kV Transmission Line designed to provide a transmission capacity of 2,400 MW at its initial 230kV energization stage, while the Cebu-Bohol Interconnection Project in the Visayas will provide Bohol with 1,200 MW total interconnection capacity to Cebu island where MVIP is connected.
“Various new transmission backbone projects, such as the upgrade of the Luzon-Visayas HVDC interconnection, will upgrade the facility’s transfer capacity from 440MW to 880MW,” NGCP said.
