NGCP seeks govt approval for Batangas-Mindoro link
By Lenie Lectura – September 26, 2024
from Business Mirror
The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) is asking the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) to approve the implementation of the P90.7-billion Batangas-Mindoro 500 kilovolt (kV) interconnection backbone project, a vital component to the development of offshore wind (OSW) projects.
The grid operator said in its application that the interconnection of the Luzon grid to the Mindoro grid will address the increasing demand for Mindoro Island where the current source of power can no longer accommodate the future load requirements.
“When Mindoro Island’s power system is connected to the main grid that also serves as a 500 kV transmission backbone, the system reliability issues which result to frequent power interruptions experienced by the customers will be addressed, while generation development will be encouraged due to available transmission capacity and a wider market for power generation companies,” NGCP said.
Mindoro has the highest concentration of OSW potential. With this, NGCP said the Batangas-Mindoro 500kV interconnection backbone project will encourage further generation development.
“The upgraded Batangas-Mindoro 500kV interconnection and backbone project is necessary in order to cater the OSW projects promoted by the national government with a potential of 28 gigawatts,” NGCP said.
It will also encourage the development of renewable energy in the two competitive renewable energy zones, with an aggregate capacity of around 343 MW for solar and 710MW for wind farms. “This will provide opportunity to power generation companies due to a wider market brought about by completion of the project,” it added.
The proposed facility will be done in two phases.
The first stage will cost P45.59 billion. It involves the development of combination of overhead transmission lines and submarine cables from Pinamucan substation in Batangas to the proposed Calapan substation in Oriental Mindoro. The said line is designed at 500kV but to be initially energized at 230kV and includes the development of Calapan 500 kV substation.
The estimated cost for stage 2 is P45.06 billion It involves the energization of the lines and cables, and the full development of the substation. Moreover, the system will be extended to the southern part of Mindoro Island through the development of Calapan-Magsaysay 500 kV line and substation to serve loads in Occidental Mindoro.
