NGCP: Negros-Panay submarine cable ready
by Alena Mae S. Flores – September 22, 2017 at 07:01 pm
from manilastandard.net
Grid operator National Grid Corp. of the Philippines is set to energize the Negros-Panay submarine cable at its full capacity of 300 megawatts by the first quarter next year to address excess supply in Negros island.
NGCP said the energization of the submarine cable would also provide a more reliable connection between two of the major Visayas islands.
The Negros-Panay submarine cable forms part of the first stage of the company’s Cebu-Negros-Panay 230-kilovolt (kV) backbone project designed to boost energy stability in the region.
“With the influx of power sources in Negros, CNP Stage 1 will maximize the power generated by variable renewable energy plants in the province,” said NGCP.
Investors rushed to put up power plants after the government increased the installation target for solar to 500 MW from 50 MW and wind to 500 MW and wind to 400 MW from 200 MW in 2014.
Most of the solar plants were concentrated in Negros island where huge tracks of land were readily available at that time.
“NGCP’s mandate is to build connections to any energy source which wants to sell power through the country’s power backbone. It is imperative that transmission projects are synchronized with generation projects, so we can ensure that any power that may be generated will be dispatched through the grid,” NGCP said
Other segments of CNP Stage 1 include the double circuit Bacolod-E.B. Magalona overhead transmission line, and the expansion of the Bacolod and Barotac Viejo Substations and the E.B. Magalona Cable Terminal Station.
NGCP also said it would be able to provide an additional transmission capacity of 210 MW between Negros and Panay Islands and improve voltage levels of major substations in Negros island due to the completion of the submarine cable.
“NGCP’s goals are always centered on increasing the grid’s reliability and security. With these improvements to the Visayas grid, we are taking another big step towards ensuring the stability of energy supply for our customers” the company said.
The company said applications for the implementation of Stages 2 and 3 of the CNP project were filed with the Energy Regulatory Commission in 2016, with Stage 3 approved on September 4.
