Five clean energy projects advances with DOE's go-ahead for system studies
At A Glance
The race to renewable energy (RE) integration continues, as the Department of Energy (DOE) has approved five clean energy projects for system impact studies (SIS).
These endorsements to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) will help assess the viability of the power grid to accommodate the additional capacity from the projects. Otherwise, the NGCP would determine if any refurbishments are needed for its transmission lines, transformers, or substations.
Last month, the DOE recorded five RE projects slated for grid impact studies, located in certain provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Three of these are wind projects: the 80 megawatt (MW) Presentacion 3 Wind Power Project in Camarines Sur, the 160 MW EB Magalona wind power project in Negros Occidental, and the 200 MW Abra-Kalinga wind power project in Kalinga.
Other assets cleared for SIS were the 50 megawatt-peak (MWp) PAVI green Naga solar power project and the 30 MW Botong-Rangas geothermal project.
Throughout the start of the year, the DOE has approved 40 projects for grid impact studies.
Meanwhile, the DOE also issued four certificates of endorsement (COE) to the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) last month. One has already been amended, while the rest were three new applications.
In April, the National Power Corporation (NPC) received endorsements for the Sibolo diesel power plant in Antique and the Jintotolo diesel power plant in Masbate. Another diesel plant that received a COE was the Isabel Modular diesel power plant in Leyte.
The only solar project granted a COE in April was the 65 megawatt-direct current (MWdc) Vista Alegre solar power project in Negros Occidental.