By Lenie Lectura – September 26, 2018
from Business Mirror
SMC Global Power Holdings Corp., the power arm of conglomerate San Miguel Corp., plans to put up a 300-megawatt (MW) coal plant in Negros Occidental.
Based on Department of Energy data, SMC Global Power applied for the conduct of a grid impact study (GIS), which a power firm needs before it can proceed with the construction of a project. The DOE approved its application on August 1.
The proponent disclosed plans to install a 300-MW CFB (circulating fluidized bed) coal-fired power plant in San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. No other details were added.
CFB is a developing technology for coal combustion to achieve lower emission of pollutants. By using this technology, up to 95 percent of pollutants can be absorbed before being emitted to the atmosphere.
The agency also approved the conduct of GIS for six solar power rooftop projects of Solar Philippines Commercial Rooftop Projects Inc. on August 7. These are the 200-MW Maragondon-Naic-Tanza2 solar power project in Cavite; the 1,200-MW Santa Rosa Nueva Ecija 2 solar power project; the 1,200-MW Iba-Palauig 2 solar power project in Zambales; the 600-MW Balayan solar power project in Batangas; the 1,200-MW Iba-Palauig 1 solar power project in Zambales; and the 150-MW Tarlac solar power project.
Three more solar power projects secured last month the DOE’s green light for the conduct of GIS. These are the 25-MW Palawan solar project of Global Cleanergy Corp.; the 100-MW Tarlac solar power project of Sunray Power Inc.; and the 24.96-MW South Cotabato solar power plant of Astronergy Development Gensan Inc.
Also in the approved GIS list are the 35-MW bunker-fired diesel power-generating facility of Isla Del Fuego Power Utilities Services Corp. in Subic, Zambales, and the 3-MW biomass power project of HDJ Bayawan Agri-Ventures Corp. in Negros Occidental.
In all, the DOE has cleared 12 power projects that could generate a total of 5,037.96 MW. The list of companies with clearance for GIS as of August 2018 was released on Tuesday.