The Energy Department approved the conduct of a grid impact study for two large wind projects with a combined capacity of 703 megawatts and a 300-MW solar facility in Rizal.
1The three projects, once completed, will augment the power supply in the Luzon grid. The study will determine the impact of the power plants on the Luzon grid.
Rizal Wind Energy Corp. received the agency’s approval for a grid impact study involving its 603-MW wind project in the towns of Antipolo and Tanay.
The agency also approved the application of Alternergy Abra de Ilog Wind Corp. for the 100-MW Tanay Wind Project in Antipolo and Tanay, Rizal.
Both projects are expected to be bigger than the existing 54-MW Pililla Wind Farm in Pililla, Rizal.
Meanwhile, the department also allowed Pangasinan UPC Asia Corp. to proceed with the grid impact study of its-300 MW Lagina de Bay 2 solar power project in Laguna de Bay and Pililia, Rizal. A 151.2-MW wind farm is also being constructed in Talim Island in Binangonan and Cardona, Rizal.
Outside Rizal province, the department approved the grid impact study for GT Energy Corp.’s 18-MW bunker-fired power plant in Calbayog, Samar and the 5-MW energy storage project of Monte Solar Energy Inc. in Bais, Negros Oriental.
The agency also allowed the Bases Conversion and Development Authority’s 69-kilovolt sub-transmission lines in Concepcion, Tarlac to conduct a grid impact study.
It approved the grid impact study for the said projects in February.
The agency continues to woo the private sector to invest in the power industry to secure the country’s future power requirements.
It recently assured a stable power supply during the dry months until June even as output from the hydro plants were expected to be lower amid the El Niño dry spell.
Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said preparations were ongoing to ensure that the supply would be adequate during the dry months.
“We want to make sure there is no impact of El Niño on the power supply,” Fuentebella said.
Fuentebella said the department would also make sure that the maintenance schedule of power plants would be synchronized with the grid and there would be no forced outage of power plants.
Fuentebella, however, asked consumers to implement demand side management and energy efficiency campaign measures.
“We are also making preparations for any unforeseen incidents like an unscheduled outage. We also have the interruptible load program which we are preparing for,” he said.
Energy assistant secretary Redentor Delola said that based on the monitoring of the DoE, the power supply would be normal during the dry months as more plants were expected to become online.
Around 571 MW of capacity is expected to join the Luzon grid.
