NKS eyes power line to Laguna floating solar site

By Alena Mae S. Flores – July 22, 2024, 7:45 pm
from manilastandard.net

floating solar panel

NKS Solar One Inc. asked the Energy Regulatory Commission to approve its application to develop a dedicated point-to-point transmission facility connecting its 250 megawattpeak NKS Solar One floating PV power plant project in Laguna province to the Luzon grid.

The company said in its ERC application it plans to connect the floating solar plant in Lumban, Cavinti and Kalayaan, Laguna to the Luzon grid via a direct connection to the 230kV Lumban substation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Phase 1 of NKS Solar One Project is targeted to commence commercial operations by March 2026 and phase 2 by September 2026.

The company said the dedicated facility would connect the 162-MWp Caliraya floating solar power project (phase 1) to the NGCP 230 kV Lumban Substation via a 6-kilometer double circuit 230 kV transmission line.

Phase 2 will connect the 88-MWp Lumot floating solar power project to the NKS Caliraya Substation via a 6-km single circuit 230 kV transmission line.

NKS said the estimated cost of the construction of the dedicated facility project, which may vary depending on the final cost from the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor, is around P1.624 billion.

“Other than the connection point modification at the 23okV NGCP Lumban substation which will be subject to reimbursement by the NGCP, the dedicated facility project will be exclusively funded by NKS and will, therefore, not impact any regulated charges,” the company said.

It said the construction of the dedicated facility project, including civil and electromechanical works, may be completed by January 2026.

“In order to provide additional capacity to the Luzon grid in 2026, there is a need for NKS to commence operations by March 2026,” NKS said.